LARES is a Psychedelic Sludge/Doom metal band from Germany who formed in 2015. “Et in Arcadia Ego,” is their second full-length album and they released an EP in 2017. This was my first experience with their music so I wasn’t sure what to expect but……….this is exactly the kind of music I love: one long song with a lot going on it. This is a surreal 27 minute long ride that is pure psychosis and oftentimes unnerving. Vocally, it’s blackened with screams from the pit of hell itself. It is a very abrasive performance and that is exactly what is needed for this album. Musically, it has a variety of tempos and styles but it’s always in a stage of mental breakdown, never resting on one element overly long because another straw is about to be pulled to reveal another crazy moments.

The beginning is intense, very much black metal oriented. This fades out around the 4:12 mark and the song turns atmospheric but in a psychedelic, tripped out spacey way. It’s freaky and mind numbing in a different way, to the point that the song returning to a more intense journey is almost a respite. Around the 10:30 mark the song expands out into sludge/doom soundscapes, the drumming and bass being particularly driving. A surprisingly catchy and melodic movement follows after, showcasing the band’s ability to switch its sounds and still make it cohesive to what becomes before and after. The song transforms into what I can only describe as “bat shit insane” and it is total metal chaos. The song begins to fade out around the 24 mark, winding down into trippy and unusual sounds.

“Et in Arcadia Ego,” is an album/song that is quite the surprising and eclectic journey. It’s well worth revisiting their crazy world as this is the type of music that multiple listens will further reveal little details and intricacies that might have been missed the first time around. This certainly isn’t an album with mass appeal but I also think it is one that is well worth experimenting with. Even if tripped out doom/sludge and long songs aren’t your thing, give this one a chance. It’s so weird, nearly to the point of being alien, that even if you don’t like it or it isn't normally your style, it will still be an engrossing experience that will pull you in until the very last second.