CD Digipak Ars Magna Umbrae – Lunar Ascension

Ars Magna Umbrae invites listeners into a bleak, labyrinthine soundscape with the 2019 limited-edition release of Lunar Ascension. Issued via the prestigious I, Voidhanger Records, this album is a definitive piece of modern atmospheric black metal, capturing the zeitgeist of the genre through a masterful blend of occult-tinged dissonance and cinematic scope.

Spanning roughly forty minutes, the album showcases the project's unique ability to deliver expansive, "cosmically macabre" atmospheres within concise songwriting. Despite the epic feel of the compositions, only two tracks exceed five minutes, highlighting a refined and impactful execution. Fans of Nightbringer, Akhlys, and Deathspell Omega will find much to admire in the off-kilter melodies and smartly layered, "spectral black hole" arrangements.

Key features of this release:

• Genre: Atmospheric/Dissonant Black Metal with occult and doom influences.
• Sound: Highly affecting riffs, dark sinister atmospheres, and "senses-abrading" roars.
• Atmosphere: A "depressive, doom-like dirge" closes the record, featuring persistent tolling bells that signal a profound finality.
• Edition: Limited-edition CD release on the curate-focused I, Voidhanger imprint.

For those devoted to the blackened arts, Lunar Ascension is a striking and nuanced journey through "starless aeons" that rewards repeated, deep immersion.