SERVANT – Lux Ex Infernis

We enter "Lux Ex Inferis" through 'In Noctem', an entirely instrumental opener that immediately begins shaping the album’s ominous atmosphere. Melodic guitar leads initially take the spotlight before the composition gradually grows heavier, with darker riffs, rapid tremolo picking and bursts of blast beats adding a rawer edge. Without vocals to guide the way, the instrumentation is left to tell the story on its own, slowly building tension and creating the feeling that something far more sinister is waiting just beyond the gates.

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Next up is 'Tabula Rasa', where eerie synths collide with distorted riffs and heavy drumming to push the album into a much more aggressive direction. The uptempo attack is driven by strong, raspy vocals, while a melodic backbone and atmospheric textures keep the track from relying on sheer force alone. Particularly effective is the final stretch, where the instrumentation drives relentlessly forward beneath increasingly throaty, raw screams. Dark, melodic and vicious, that ending really hits the spot.

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'Thanatos, Embrace Of The Night' pulls back slightly on the pace, although the drums continue hammering relentlessly before becoming increasingly cymbal-driven. The vocals sound raw and pain-laden, carrying an urgent, almost narrative quality that adds considerable emotional weight. Once again, SERVANT balances cold, abrasive black metal with more melodic and hypnotic textures, a combination that is quickly becoming one of the album’s greatest strengths. And when those screams truly erupt, they don't just reach your ears, they seem to rumble straight through your entire system.

‘Lux Fulget’ hits immediately with sinister vocals and powerful riffs, creating a raw sense of urgency that feels almost cathartic. The sheer force behind the vocal delivery, combined with the weight of the guitars, builds an intensity that makes you want to scream everything out alongside them. At least, that is exactly what it does to me. Melodic lines float alongside the heavier instrumentation almost like a shadow, adding depth without taking away from the aggression. The bridge finally offers a brief moment to breathe through clean guitar notes, before SERVANT plunge straight back into screaming vocals and hypnotic instrumentation. Emotional, dark and wonderfully cathartic. 

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Another strong track is 'Of Stones, Sleep And Death', opening with epic yet strangely uncertain melodies before the instrumentation begins pushing steadily forward beneath SERVANT’s cold, icy vocals. Some of the synth textures initially feel slightly out of place, but the further the track unfolds, the more that unease seems deliberate. What really makes the song stand out is its contrast: on one side, raw and aggressive black metal, on the other, something beautiful and remarkably fragile, carrying an almost painful sense of longing for something once lost.

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'The Accuser' slows the pace without sacrificing intensity, surrounding its soaring melodies with a sinister, almost doom-like backbone. At times, I even catch a hint of BEHEMOTH in its imposing character, particularly as the vocals are spat out with pure poison. Strong guitar, bass and drum work make the rhythm section feel deliberately overwhelming, as though the track is slowly closing in on you rather than simply attacking head-on. It feels less like 'The Accuser' is chasing you and more like it already knows exactly where to find you.

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We end the record with 'Hypnos I See You', returning to fast, relentless black metal as SERVANT launches one final attack. The heavy reverb certainly adds to the track’s cold and distant atmosphere, although I would have preferred slightly less of it, as a drier mix could have brought the vocals further forward and made their delivery more immediate and understandable. At the same time, the haunting melodies beneath them create an almost unsettling emotional contrast, sending chills down my spine as that sense of melancholy cuts through the aggression. The bass is noticeably more prominent, giving the track a particularly cohesive weight, while a brief spoken-word sample interrupts the assault around the bridge. Interestingly, the instrumentation then seems to retreat slightly, almost as though we are meant to hear one final accusation with absolute clarity. Eventually, all that aggression fades away, leaving only fragile melodies behind, a beautifully unsettling way to close the album. 

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With "Lux Ex Inferis", SERVANT finds an impressive balance between black metal’s raw aggression and a far more fragile, melodic side. Icy riffs, relentless drums and pain-laden screams provide the violence, while haunting synths and melancholic melodies bring atmosphere and genuine emotional depth. A few production choices may not always hit the mark, but they do little to weaken the album’s hypnotic pull. Dark, passionate and beautifully unsettling, Lux Ex Inferis shows a band continuing to sharpen its identity without sacrificing its cold black metal heart.

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SCORE 8.5/10

REVIEWED BY SWAMPY