Chicago Black Metal quartet Lurid followed up their 2021 demo last year with a new EP entitled ‘Fire Spell’ which was released on both CD and LP by Vendetta Records of Germany. Some would argue that these six tracks that last for over half an hour would constitute a full length album, but that is just splitting hairs really. Lurid play with a fire and energy that rarely deserts them, and their urgent, headstrong sound is tempered only by brief bouts of slower, deathlier rhythm. The guitarists R.G. and P.K. (Bother formally of Thrash Metal band Schizophrenia who released one demo in 2010) bounce off each other well; with furious unrelenting riffs being contrasted by equally as focussed rhythm guitar, yet with a deep seated grinding groove that gives the underbelly of Lurid’s sound a steely, ominous edge! Drummer D.O. (Also of death Metal band Nucleus) contributes to Lurid’s wall of deafening sound with a brutally efficient and highly energetic display of violent pummelling that is enhanced by the perpetual rumble of bass from M.J. Pulling double duty, guitarist P.K. also belts out a vitriolic line of barked, ravenous aggression and abrasive howls, grunts and growls. ‘Fire Spell’ then is as unrelenting as a hurricane and as feral and vicious as a pack of starved wolves.
Lurid – Fire Spell [EP]
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