Review Summary: Lightcarver is a brutal symphony of raw emotion and unapologetic catharsis.
Magdalene's debut album,
Lightcarver, embodies the raw intensity and dark thematic elements characteristic of blackened hardcore. Combining the breakneck speed of hardcore punk with the grim and atmospheric features of black metal,
Lightcarver presents a fusion of genres that's both uniquely captivating and unmistakably brutal. Fans of the sorely missed
Totem Skin will find a lot to like here, especially the album closer "Descension (A Worthless Penance)", as it opens with a brooding melody before unleashing its blackened assault.
The album's cohesion teeters on a razor-thin edge, with its proclivity for unpredictability transforming each track into a labyrinth of divergent influences. Tracks like "Anemoia" opens with a punky bass line before transitioning a blackened hardcore tune, with sudden math flurries, tremolo riffs, and a vocal delivery that oscillates between shrill shrieks and frenzied hardcore barks. It's not all fast paced though as "Moloch" slows things down with a two-minute doom metal inspired track with some interesting melodies in the background.
Lightcarver definitely does not overstay it's welcome either with a 31 minute runtime, in fact, I really think this album could have done with a slightly longer runtime as it's over far too quickly.
It will certainly be interesting to see what Magdalene does next. It's honestly shocking to me that this band only had 40 monthly listeners on Spotify when this review was written as
Lightcarver definitely sounds like a veteran band that has honed their sound over several iterations. This four-piece from Portland, OR has a bright future and I can't wait for more.
