Finland’s 2 piece monstrosity, Lantern, return with their second abum, II: Morphosis, after four years since their debut, Below.  If you’re lucky enough to have the Subterranean Effulgence ep, in your collection, consider yourself lucky, it’s a great release.  Opening with “Black Miasma”, I am noticing some Dark Throne type of sounds going on here.  Nice Blackish Death Metal riffing, with a nice little bass guitar.  The 1.15 part starts with the vocals and Necrophilos has a great gruffness to his vocals and he is enunciating his vocals quite well and he is very clear.  Some may see this newer delivery as not as evil as Lantern’s earlier releases.  I am the opposite, I think his vocals are quite stellar and he sounds angry as shit on this album.  The tune gets a little faster, then atmospheric and eventually trails off with some pained vocals, bottoming out.

“Sleeper of Hypnagog” is up next, with some doomy melody thrown around. Quicker pace at the 1 minute mark, not blast beats, just a real rotten, filthy beat and the 1.25 beat is quite fantastic.  Bringing me back to the late 80’s/early 90’s death metal sounds.  Terrific!  Some atmospheric elements and the 5 minute mark of the dual guitar melodies is excellent before Lantern romps into a nice slower, groove moment, letting this part breathe right before the quicker part comes in.

“Necrotic Epiphanies” has an awesome opening part reminding me of some of the brutal death/thrash I always loved coming out of the 80’s Brazilian scene.  The beginning reminds me a bit of Vulcano, before the slow part comes in.  Really a killer opening segment.  This is a great tune, although it’s an instrumental, I would have liked some vocals thrown in.  C’mon Lantern, it’s been 4 years since your last album, don’t include an instrumental, but they throw in an interlude, as well, Morphosis, 50 seconds of nothing, really, a waste.  “Lucid Endlessness” closes the album and at over 7 minutes is an epic album closer.  Opening is excellent, fast,death/thrash with some blasting going and with some awesome vocals…..damn I know why I love Necrophilos’ new vocal approach so much, he sounds very similiar, on this to Dave Hewson from Canada’s legendary and one of my favorite bands of all time-Slaughter!  Totally, whew, glad I got that figured out.  This song even has some primitive sounding Slaughter like blasting moments and is definitely one of the strongest Lantern songs, if not my favorite from them.

So there  you have it folks.  Lantern incorporating more of a death/thrash sound to their repertoire, as opposed to black metallish moments.  II: Morphosis is organic and real natural sounding music.  This is one of those rare gem bands, where honestly, aside from Slaughter and some other sounds, Lantern is above all else…Original.  If you’re looking for a crystal clear and pristine sounding album with computerized drums (Hey I love that style of dm too), you may be barking up the wrong tree.  If you’re looking for something new and different and just plain kick ass death metal look no further than Lantern’s newest album.  And the album cover..good Dark Lord Almighty, the best album cover of the year, thus far.  The penmanship/ink drawing is stunning to say the least.  Ok, thus far, this is one of the best death metal albums for 2017.  Get off your arse and buy this without hesitation!

 

 

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