Most will roll their eyes at blackened deathcore with symphonic elements , but Arizonians Ov Lustra (“Of Glory? Of Shining?”Of Mirrors?) has absolutely knocked it out of the park with this ‘debut’ EP, utilizing some of the most effective orchestration I’ve heard in any metal genre with perfect results.
Formerly known as Sun Speaker and releasing one album under that moniker, the band was legally forced to change their name to Ov Lustra, and their debut release is an EP with 4 new songs that continue the story started on their Sun Speaker release, as well as a redo of some of their Sun Speaker songs and for added bonus, orchestral versions of the 4 new songs. And it’s this orchestral element that set the band apart as all the orchestration is composed and arranged by Francesco Ferrini, know for his work in Fleshgod Apocalypse and even last years Amorphis album.
So even if you are not a fan of the band’s The Black Dahlia Murder on steroids metallic backbone, which to me is still pretty solidly done, the symphonic arrangements that gloss the affair with an heavy handed epic luster is worth the price of admission, more than say Carnifex but similar to the new The Kennedy Veil or recent impressive effort from When Plagues Collide earlier this year and awesome, recent Shadow of Intent album, Melancholy (who incidentally also used Ferrini).
Ov the 4 new tracks “The Ritual”, “Tempestas” (Featuring Michael Alvarez of Alterbeast/Flub), “Ov Delicate Rage” and “The Orator”, the standout is easily “Ov Delicate Rage”, where a fucking glorious choral arrangement give me goosebumps every time I hear it. “The orator also has a some really dramatic Hans Zimmer /Chris Nolan moments. The 4 reworked tracks (“I”, “Felle”, “Ov Lustra”, and “Arrival”,) all feature guest musicians, and deliver more of the same with “Felle” slowing things down a bit. The orchestral tracks contained as a bonus are downright epic, and the few extra or orchestral versions of tracks I have listened to on a regular basis, particularly the aforementioned “Ov Delicate Rage”.
Unfortunately, Ov Lustra recently called it quits right after this release. I hope the members resurface elsewhere, as this has a lot to like and is nice if short lived legacy.
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