Band:	Aluk Todolo
Album:	Lux
Style:	Krautrock, Black metal
Release date:	September 06, 2024
A review by:	X-Ray Rod

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Returning after 8 years must have given Aluk Todolo a sense of urgency. because Lux delivers a constant assault of frenetic krautrock with black metal undertones that will leave you at the edge of your seat.

I have fun memories of the first time I heard Aluk Todolo. Friday April 15th, 2011: it was my first time attending Roadburn Festival, and I kickstarted my second day at the main stage with noise artist Keiji Haino. Turns out, I was very unprepared for his avantgarde noise so I left early, confused, and mildly upset. But as I was near the exit, an alluring sound called me. I went to the small stage, and I felt more and more trapped by the weird, bouncy psychedelia mixed with an aggressive rhythm section. That was Aluk Todolo pouring their souls out on the stage. I only caught half their set, but that first interaction with them is imprinted in my memory. This was more than a year before the French trio went on to release their masterpiece, Occult Rock. It’s interesting, because their previous two albums never worked that well for me, due to the dissonant noise and crude aesthetics. Occult Rock was a definitive turning point in their career, and it influenced their next album, Voix. And the same goes for Lux.

While it is fun to reminisce about how excellent Occult Rock is, the fact is that the album is 12 years old now and over 80 minutes long. It can be difficult to be in the mood for mind-bending music for such a long period of time, which is why it’s a great idea that Aluk Todolo tries bitesize albums too. The overall opinion seemed to be that if you enjoyed Occult Rock, then Voix would be a safe bet. That album had a more condensed formula that focused more on the slower, calmer sections: a more amicable affair. Lux throws that out of the window by being the densest work Aluk Todolo has released so far. It is divided into six parts, but like most Aluk Todolo works, all tracks smoothly flow into one.

What makes Lux stand out is the constant fast pace that erupts into maddening crescendos. Many of the guitars on Lux are surprisingly violent. with crazy tremolo leads and screeching high notes that hint at the band’s black metal influences of the past. The third track in particular has some really mesmerising guitars, and their improv nature would be of interest to fans of Chaos Echœs or even Oranssi Pazuzu. Of course, one must talk about the rhythm section when discussing Aluk Todolo. The bass is ever present, and the main instrument that keeps the listener in a soothing trance. That chill vibe of the bass is counterbalanced by the insane drumming performance. It stretches the tension right until breaking point but never releases it, leaving the listener in an accelerated, anxious state for the duration of the record.

It’s understandable that people want another Occult Rock. But personally I’ve enjoyed what Aluk Todolo has released since. With a faster approach, the French trio showcases a different facet of theirs. The alarming tone of Lux might come as a surprise at first, but behind the intense sound lies the wild psychedelia and grooviness the band has always been known for.