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Not everyone probably believes we need a Coven revival in 2020, but those people need to step out, because I absolutely do, and it is one of the reasons I am stoked about the third album from German doom metalers, Lucifer. The band formed in 2014 under the dark, bewitching gaze of Johanna Sadonis. Lucifer were initially a more straightforward doom metal band, sort of in the vein of Castle, but took a turn toward ‘70s psych and downer rock with their second album following Nicke Andersson (of Entombed and Hellacopters fame) joining the group. Their third release is a melding of these two aspects of their career. The occult doom with the ‘70s dower blues bacchanal, and the results are as sexy as they are evil. Things kick off promisingly with the leather-clad firewalk of opener “Ghost” with the sultry slither of its coffin-crawling grooves and the sonorous witchy-purr of Sadonis’s vocal melodies, heightened by torch-lit, séance priming solos. “Ghost” has that classic, pulp horror, literally-in-love-with-Satan vibe, a flame that is taken up on numerous tracks on III, including the very Coven-esque dissent into shadowy, maddening passion “Leather Demon,” the Motoheaded, wrench-wielding, high-way robber soul of the eponymously titled “Lucifer,” and the hot and heavy blues prowler “Midnight Phantom.” “Flanked by Snakes” has a Heart meets Deep Purple in a pit of vipers feels, while “Coffin Fever” keeps things heated with sensual doomy guitar stirs and spirit-lifting acid rock, and the willful “Stay Astray” can lead you through a haunted woods unearthly delights if you let it. Heavy, brooding party rock to help you exercise your inner sexual demons, in both senses of the phrase.
Grab a copy of Lucifer III from Century Media, here, and check out the video for "Leather Demon" below.
