Dissonance and inversion, cacophony and transposition, disharmony and discord all things conceived in the ideologies of stark contrast and juxtaposition that are met in emphasis within the confines of the EP "Also Sprach Futura" whose title is a melding of German and Latin roughly translating to "So Future Spoke". LYCHGATE now enters their third year and indulges their listeners with a collection of songs that once more blur and snuff the lines between Black and Doom metal.

Starting the record in a discordance of rhythm and organ is "Incarnate" a remarkably clear construction focused on harsh tones and jarring contrasts. "Progeny Of The Singularity" is the next starting track carrying a sharp dynamic separating it plainly from its predecessor as the break - which entails the entire center of the song - slows considerably allowing for a clean progression to take strangle of the song before returning to a much heavier ambience. "Simulacrum" or similarity in English begins with a slow and clean guitar riff which builds into a sturdier and more eldritch progression via the addition of polyphonic rhythms and crushing drums. Ending the grouping is the most complex piece of music upon the EP entitled, "Vanity Ablaze" which consists of constantly shifting rhythms and leads that die out once in favor of an off-key clean lead which is slowly replaced by heavier rhythms.

The overall sound of the EP is best defined as odd, eldritch, and thought-provoking being composed of a multitude of occasions where the idea of the intrinsic or the normal just does not exist. The haunting echo and draw of the organ destroys any idea of harmony and lies on the discord thick such that no two resounding sounds on the entire EP are complimentary; the vocals are reaching and malign; the guitars paired in great unison creating an amazing stereoscopic sensation; the bass is present but not pertinent; and the drums are a bit silenced in favor of the strings despite the amazing performing attributes behind the kit.

LYCHGATE has no fear in treading stilled and unheard waters creating their own odd and distinguished niche as a deviant of traditional Black Metal - the music, in essence, is very off-putting and yet such is its charm as well captivating the ideas of weird and unversed crafted by capable musicians nonetheless. For anyone with a penchant towards Black Metal, especially the more eclectic sounds "Also Sprach Futura" delivers without ever being asked.