It’s impossible to wear Lorna Shore out.
Following their last successful album and despite numerous tours, Adam De Micco (guitar), Austin Archey (drums, Hollow Prophet), Andrew O’Connor (guitar), Mike Yager (bass), and Will Ramos (vocals, ex-A Wake in Providence) unveil their new album, I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me, via Century Media.
Prison Of Flesh begins by plunging us into anguish with its introductory sample, gradually revealing violent beats before finally burying us under its massive riffs, topped off by Will‘s roars. The orchestral parts are as effective as ever in enhancing the rhythm, leaving the mosh parts to the vocalist, who lets loose before Oblivion gives us a moment’s respite before nailing us to the ground again with a frantic rhythm. It should be noted, however, that the track offers more airy and melancholic moments, creating a contrast with the raw and jerky passages, but also an extreme coherence when they come together, as in the final before In Darkness and its angelic introduction. The instrumental intensifies, but it is only when the screams return that the musicians accompany it, creating a devastating melancholy barely contained by a few calmer passages, such as the break before the striking final that leads to Unbreakable. Once again, we are granted a brief moment of respite, but it is quickly shattered by the raw power of these bloody harmonic riffs led by the singer in top form, particularly on this infernal break and the final chorus. We move on to Glenwood, which offers us an impressive intro rooted in haunting tones before attacking again with fairly melodious Old School patterns, as evidenced by the long solo, then Lionheart positions itself as a true motivational anthem with almost continuous double kick and Neoclassical influences complemented by grandiose orchestration. The tone changes with Death Can Take Me, which follows with a heavier atmosphere, confirmed by a more aggressive rhythm and samples. And if you thought you’d heard it all with the first break, wait for the reprises. We feel almost relieved when War Machine unleashes its virulent and oppressive riffs, sometimes with a slight Djent influence, but the track tramples us without mercy before handing over to A Nameless Hymn, which takes its time to settle in before unleashing its onslaught. While the basis of the track is already powerful, the orchestrations clearly take it to the next level, conditioning us before crushing us with the final killer break, followed by Forevermore, which, once its gentle then majestic introduction is over, shows us how the combination of its different elements can turn a violent but fairly simple passage into a veritable tidal wave, but also how important it is to pace the composition well to give each moment its viscerality.
If Lorna Shore had impressed (or initiated) more than a few, there is no doubt that I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me is the album that sealed their success. Each composition is as sublime as it is devastating, and I believe that their live performances will go down in history.
95/100