Thursday 2 June 2016

Lurk - "Fringe" (Album Review)

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 29/04/2016
Label: Independent



The overall atmosphere is incredibly oppressive and reminiscent of the finest sludge bands, their music kind of operates in a space somewhere between Serpentine Path and Electric Wizard or even Helmet at their most twisted.  Lurk have continued their trajectory with “Fringe”- that is now three great albums in four years. Well worth checking out for something.... different, not to mention very, very heavy


“Fringe” DD track listing:

1). Ostrakismos
2). Tale Blade
3). Reclaim
4). Elan
5). Offshoot
6). Furrow
7). Nether
8). Proteus Syndrome

The Review:

Lurk, Finnish doom/sludge/death/horrible metal music makers return with their third album. Releasing a record steadily every two years so far, the band's self titled debut was excellent. The follow up “Kaldera” was even better. Rest assured, the band have dropped not one notch with the quality material available here. It is creepy and dark- just as the first two albums were. Hooded Menace are the inevitable name check for all dark Finnish bands, but Lurk are nothing like them. Their music kind of operates in a space somewhere between Serpentine Path and Electric Wizard or even Helmet at their most twisted, perhaps.

There are huge riffs on the likes of “Tale Blade”, as well as more melodic but sinister passages. “Reclaim”, however unlikely this may sound, kind of swings in its rolling rhythms. The excellently titled “Elan” casts a hypnotic spell while the cavernous production really lets “Offshoot” rumble. The overall atmosphere is incredibly oppressive and reminiscent of the finest sludge bands- although “Fringe” is not a sludge record, being as there is a lot of doom and death present here too.

“Nether” is perhaps the best example of their style here lots of parts and changes, some huge riffs, some melody here and there, even. “Proteus Syndrome” finishes the record off nicely with a kind of winding down effect towards the end.

Lurk have continued their trajectory with “Fringe”- that is now three great albums in four years. Well worth checking out for something.... different, not to mention very, very heavy. 

Fringe” is available here




Band info: bandcamp || facebook