Band:	Lucifugum
Album:	На Крючья Да В Клочья! (On Hooks To Pieces)
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	April 2000

01. Придавлена Упавшим Стержнем Жизни
02. Цепью Свободы
03. Все Матери Умирают
04. Неосязаемое, Бесконечное, Непостяжимое
05. Надрывом На Выдохе
06. Вам, Глупым И Живучим
07. Терпеть Себя - Судьба Твоя
08. У Жизни Нет Цены

Lucifugum is coming from Ukraine, where it is considered as a cult band of the underground scene, mainly because of its virulent stances against the established order and the Christian church. Apparently, the lyrics are resolutely anti-Christian and blasphematory... I say apparently because they are in Russian, a language I don't master.

So I will focus only on the music. Lucifugum plays a black metal that is halfway between true and symphonic black. The production is quite good, except for the vocals, that are mixed way too much in the background. It's not really a problem though, because the singer is not very good [he sounds a bit like Eternal Tears Of Sorrow's one], and he strains his voice all the way too much.

Then the music itself is quite classical, influenced at the same time by the true black metal scene of the beginning 90's and the first albums of Dimmu Borgir [Stormblast], with incisive, fast and catchy riffs. The arrangements add a personal touch: the orchestration and the keyboards are on the first plan, and give a gloomy atmosphere to this album, as a reflection of the dreary and frozen moors of Ukraine.

A song that particularly needs to be noticed is #6 (sorry I won't write the titles in Russian), because it does not sound like the others: it is a kind of electro/black, in the style of Gloomy Grim for example. This is a weird and cold song, that adds a touch of originality and experiment to On Hooks To Pieces. What must be kept in mind is that the best passages on this album are the instrumental ones, like the break on Track #3 or the closing track which is a great instrumental piece, with its acoustic/medieval a la In Flames parts linked with majestic orchestral passages, that make it sound like the perfect soundtrack for an adventure movie.

In a few words, Lucifugum has created a good black metal work, that would however need a better production. It could appeal to both symphonic black lovers and die-hard true black metal fans (although these last ones could find it too symphonic...).