This ruthless Black Metal entity from Down Under returns with their sophomore beast, offering a sonic landscape of chilling melodic ferocity and suffocating atmosphere.

Following the release of their debut record, Upon the Edge of Darkness, in 2023, Adelaide, Australia-based Black Metal horde Lumen Ad Mortem (or “light unto death” from Latin) returns with their sophomore beast titled A Grave Ascent, a striking dose of ferocious Black Metal that balances perfectly between an energetic drive fueled by lightning-fast tremolo riffs and a mid-paced dirge drenched in atmosphere. Recorded at Fjordrecord Studio C (vocals), at Forest Trees Studio (guitars, keyboards and orchestration), at M/E Studio (bass and percussion), produced and mixed by Patrick Pages Oliver at Blood Wolf Productions, mastered by Owen Gillett at O.G. Mastering, and displaying a sinister artwork titled “Le Devourer” by Leoncio Harmr, the new offering by Gregor Pikl on vocals, Aaron Tuck on the guitars, keyboards and orchestration, Morris Ewings on bass, and Rory Amoy on drums and percussion shines with a harmonious mix, sounding raw, cold and emotional, yet clear and perfectly balanced, a sonic landscape of chilling melodic ferocity and suffocating atmosphere.

What Was Lost is a haunting and evil intro that will send shivers down our spines before the band crushes our hopes and dreams with The Departed, where the devilish gnarls by Gregor match perfectly with the scathing riffs by Aaron, resulting in a lecture in modern-day Melodic Black Metal while Morris and Rory make the earth tremble with their ruthless bass and drums, respectively. The strident guitar lines by Aaron kick off another blast of absolute Black Metal magic titled I Never Ceded, inspiring us all to succumb to absolute darkness; whereas Rory shows no mercy for his drums in Ghost Gums, blasting our minds with total savagery and violence while also presenting Stygian, atmospheric moments.

Then the cryptic piano by Aaron ignites one more round of the band’s trademark obscurity in A Grave Ascent, before exploding into a massive beast led by Gregor’s demonic vociferations, followed by A Stone Shall Come to Rest, presenting a blend of doom-laden Black Metal and with the fierce riffage by Aaron being nicely complemented by Morris’ thunderous bass without a single second of peace. And What is Yet to Lose is another song with a cinematic intro, as suffocating as it can be, and when the music hits get ready to be pulverized into tiny pieces to the venomous roars by Gregor and the killer beats and fills by Rory, resulting in ten minutes of first-class, consuming and vile Black Metal to conclude their black mass.

Retaining a malleable nature, alongside ominous synth lines and drums that relentlessly drive the energy forward, while lyrically drawing from the Australian wellspring of loss, death, and the undying spirit that refuses defeat, driven by an unrelenting force of cold and undeniable vengeance, all set within an ancient landscape where the vastness of time and darkness renders human existence utterly insignificant, A Grave Ascent is a must-listen for admirers of the darkest side of music. Hence, you can get in touch with those Stygian musicians via Facebook and Instagram, stream their music on Spotify or any other platform, and above all, grab a copy of their striking new album from their own BandCamp, or from the Hypnotic Dirge Records’ BandCamp or webstore (as a CD or an LP). Bitterly cold, haunting and ethereal, A Grave Ascent will embrace you in darkness and choke you until you’re no more, exactly the way Black Metal is supposed to sound.

Best moments of the album: The Departed and And What is Yet to Lose.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Hypnotic Dirge Records

Track listing
1. What Was Lost 2:06
2. The Departed 7:10
3. I Never Ceded 5:22
4. Ghost Gums 4:51
5. A Grave Ascent 6:04
6. A Stone Shall Come to Rest 5:47
7. And What is Yet to Lose 10:13

Band members
Gregor Pikl – vocals
Aaron Tuck – guitars, keyboards, orchestration
Morris Ewings – bass
Rory Amoy – drums, percussion

Guest musicians
Lachlan Odell – keyboards (live)
Lachlan Stopa – guitars (live)