LUNAR MANTRA are a black metal trio coming from the city of Glasgow in Scotland and they have been active now since 2013. In 2015, they released their first EP named GENESIS which was certainly an album full of diversity with instrumentation, experimental processes and produced very well as there is an ambient feel to this EP. They also released a single called "Drolma" in 2017, but now they are back again with another EP called "Psychosomatika" released through the record label Invictus Productions, (based in Dublin, Ireland). The album was scheduled to be released last year (2020) but due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has swept through the headlines, the band has had to delay the official release once or twice but now it is finally here after so long.

The first track is "Nexicthon" as the CD contains three tracks, starting with this one. The intro is quite compelling to say the least as the band combines the influences of black metal, death metal and ambient sounds or soundscape to make this album begin with raw power, drive and determination. The sheer complexity and layers of vocals, guitar, bass and drums coming together as one to express the themes of mysterious, daunting and climatic periods of textures. This track gives this Glaswegian trio, the black metal band sound we didn't hear as much in their previous EP. Perhaps this time we shall hear more modern compositional techniques and less of the ambient sound we know of already.

"Azothic Pyres" begins with a sampled guitar sound creating a crescendo before the drums and bass guitar comes crashing in like a wall of sound. The continuity of wrath and fury enrages within this track. The tremolo effect on the guitar is certainly a sound we don't often hear from this band, the vocals are gloomy and bring us into the dark abyss with thrashing drums. The drums do change rhythm throughout the song but the timing is spot on, as the drums are emphasized, as the double kicks together with the guitar that has so much depth. It is safe to say that the organic sound of guitar is well arranged in this track and this is what I love about this track.

"Aghora" actually continues on with the organic approach with the arrangement of a variety of instruments. This can be seen as embarking on a journey of what the singer did before with GENESIS, which was taking traditional instruments more commonly heard in Eastern Europe or further out, with oriental sounds, throat singing and tibetan instruments. Even though the multiple layers of sampled recordings which are overlapping one another, the track gives off the themes we have heard of before which is of occultism, illuminations and fantasy, it's very well executed. In an interview with the singer (Rory Conden), he explained that he wanted to keep some of the ambience he had created with LUNAR MANTRA's previous release, "Genesis."

Nevertheless, LUNAR MANTRA have done very well with this release, as it's still giving off the soundscape sound we heard before with their previous release. But in saying that the band have really brought their black metal and progressive influences into this EP, which is certainly produced to a very high standard through Invictus Productions. However in the same interview the singer made it obvious that the band do have their own private space for rehearsals and recording. This is of course not uncommon nowadays as the music industry has gone digital with online streaming and the idea of bands like LUNAR MANTRA being able to write, arrange and record their own material is now of course possible.

With the advancements in computer technology specifically with recording and producing music in the 21st century, the processes are more complex and require less traditional recording techniques. But the final outcome particularly with this album, LUNAR MANTRA have made their mark with an incredible album that I would say is outstanding and exciting. I look forward to hearing more from this band and wonder will they keep the same sound or go in a different direction altogether. I guess we won't know until the time comes for them to release more material. But fear not, I am sure there will be more and we will wait in anticipation too.