Brazil is always a very good place when dealing with new Metal bands (although the infinite set of problems that seems to be omnipresent in the scene), and one can find bands with a different DNA on their music (because the country's musical culture is based a lot on percussive musical forms). But's always very good to find names as ILLUMINATION, a trio that hails from Rio de Janeiro, and that comes with "Worship Death More Than Life", the band's first EP.

The idea behind their work is to breed a form of Atmospheric Black Metal based on early elements of the genre. It can be said as a form of Black Metal with roots on what was brought by classic bands of the Second Wave, inspired by names as MAYHEM, DARKTHRONE, BURZUM, SATYRICON and EMPEROR on their early works. But even a younger name, the musicians are experienced and known due their playing on bands as COLDBLOOD, LASTIMA, CASTIFAS, MYSTERIIS, UNEARTHLY, GUTTED SOULS, NERVOCHAOS, SYREN and others, and having in mind that experience and influences are features that can't be erased of one's life, the band has a personal insight on their own work (their personal musical influences can be felt in many moments during the songs). So be prepared for a funeral, darkened and aggressive form of music.

The production can cause some problems due the fact that the band has chosen something organic and old-fashioned for their work, with that abrasive and darkened appeal of the early age of Second Wave of Black Metal. Of course, one can understand what's being played, but with that old (and good) crude approach, and it fits in their musical work. And Devilish (of CULT OF FIRE) and Renato Gimenez (of VAZIO) are the special guests on vocals (the first on "Venus Shukra", and the second on "Thy Darkness").

This EP is a feast for those who saw and lived on the past, especially those who spent nights at Garage club (near the famous and infamous Vila Mimosa) between the end of the 90's and beginning of the 2000's, and to hear songs as "Ngh W Srr" and "Lux Ferre Gnosis" (both songs being filled with a brutal weight and a simple technical work, with very good rhythmic changes created by bass guitar and drums), "Occult Science" (with a sinister and funeral landscaping ambience created by the guitars), "Thy Darkness" (an Old School Black Metal song with charming aggressiveness that entangle the fans, and what good contrasts between grunted and shrieked tunes of the vocals), and "Venus Shukra" (where some technical arrangements can be heard) is a very good experience.

All that's left to say is that "Worship Death More Than Life" will be praised by all of those fans that miss the old days, so receive ILLUMINATION with applause.