SUPERLYNX – New Moon
- Posted on 22-02-2019
The Norwegian entity Superlynx is an interesting one and this sophomore effort of theirs entitled "New Moon" blew me away and has an awful lot to offer the open-minded listeners out there. Featuring ex-members of Dødheimsgard, Gothminister, and Magenta, it is damn difficult to guess or surmise what kind of music this talented trio conjures up, but something akin to psychedelic doom metal with stoner rock elements to it is arguably the most apt description that I can come up with.
The ten dynamic compositions that constitute "New Moon" are both captivating and strangely surreal, which is to say that they are memorable and yet sufficiently clever so that one can keep listening to them over and over only to discover subtle nuances and details each time. Now, there are nods and parallels to such acts as Jex Toth and Acid King on display here, but there is a peculiar sense of melancholy present on "New Moon" that differs from what the aforementioned artists usually dabble in. Richly atmospheric tunes such as "Cold Black Sea" and "The Thickest Night" walk that fine line between being somewhat uplifting and all-out devastating, but it works like a charm in the hands of this moody ensemble. The fact that parts of the album are quite bleak whereas others are slightly more upbeat creates some fascinating contrasts and dichotomies that all lovers of passionate and heartfelt doom metal ought to investigate and look into. The suitably warm production is strong, but a little more fuzz and rawness would have been welcome additions to it.
Light and shade as well as a steady groove are all over this well-crafted record and these guys weave countless cool elements together to great effect without losing sight of the fact that at the end of the day it is all about writing superb songs that will resonate with the listeners for á long time to come. Simply put, N"ew Moon" is a fabulous album that all you lovely fans of doom and gloom out there ought to invest in. The haunting voice of Pia Isaksen will possess you!