From Bandcamp, “LIVLØS (translates to ‘lifeless’) performs death metal, merging grandiose Scandinavian melodies and melancholy with intense American-rooted death metal.” Their EPK adds: “The triumphant ascendance of Danish death metal titans LIVLØS continues with the quintet’s epic third full length, the concept album “The Crescent King.” With the new record, the band continues to deliver its punishing style of heavy grooves, melancholic melodies and progressive musicianship, while unfolding a cosmological fantasy-inspired narrative of “The Crescent King” - a vivid symbol of humanity, its psyche and cyclus in the universe.

The album has ten songs, and “Solstice” is first. It has an immense weight, augmented with thick, bossy bass tones and a slow to mid-tempo pace, seguing into “Orbit Weaver,” which is stiffer, faster, and based on the groove of Thrash/Death Metal. There are some melodic elements as well, mostly within the guitar work, but it’s clear from the first song with vocals what the band is trying to push. The title track begins with some lead melodies that augment the ardent Death Metal, providing some temperance to their sound. “Usurpers” has another powerful sound, but besides some subtle changes in the pacing, the songs are starting to blur together a bit. Let’s hope the second half is more diverse.

“Harvest” is a slow, punishing sound, from a nice union of vocals and instruments. The bass thwacks away, producing a big bottom end, and the drum strikes and cymbal crashes help to round this out. “Solace” is a piano segue, featuring solemn, melancholy notes. “Throne of Cosm” features some groove, and some Progressive leanings, and the guitar work is complicated, but easily accessible at the same time. The piano notes are a nice addition to the sound as well. “Endless Majesty” closes the album, and they pour what seems like and endless amount of aggression into this final song. It is hardened, ardent, and powerful.

This was an easy album to relate to, as long as you are in the mood to break things, as well as an album where each member contributes evenly to. They have excellent musicianship, and their strength is probably in the synergy they have developed as a band, But, an area for improvement for me is to work on diversifying their sound a little more so that they stand out more in comparison with their peers.