Album Review: Lord Sin – Confessions (Larvae Records)

Formed in 2020, the enigmatic duo known as Lord Sin is back with their highly anticipated new album ‘Confessions’, set to be released on December 13th via Larvae Records.

Not only mysterious because their identities are hidden, but because the style of music they play combines electrifying psychedelic with dark doom. Lord Sin are an intriguing listen, offering up an album that stands out for its different approach. Not necessarily a unique concept, but delivered in a way that feels fresh, even as a rawer tone piles the weight on.

Crushingly heavy, devilishly dark, and filled with all kinds of dramatics, the album is a tome even though it only has six tracks. Each track comes with a lot, not just wildly different sounds and styles, but with different outlooks. Although the core sound of this album does sit in the doom camp, there’s so much more to what it offers, and Lord Sin go to great lengths to make it effective. Even as the relentless doominess wears the mind down and saps the strength from the soul.

Theres no pretending that Confessions isn’t a challenging listen, not when you’ve got several tracks passing the ten-minute mark, and nothing shorter than around seven minutes. Not when each track has an array of dark and dour soundscapes that affect the mood and leave way more than an impression on the psyche.

Tracks like Spectres, Negligent, and Regret are so effective at creating a strong sense of gloom. Lord Sin crafting thick levels of atmosphere without adding more and more elements to their sound. It’s not basic, and it’s mightily experimental in places, but there’s no issue with picking out the detail and identifying instruments. It’s a fun aspect of listening to this record and fun is needed, because, as stated so many times already, this is not a happy place. It just so happens that its rich in bleakness and that can be a very enjoyable place, regardless.

Of course, that’s not for everyone, but that’s the point. Those who find themselves attracted to Lord Sin’s raw, doomy and psych-tinged style will find this record to be transformative. However, their lethargic approach, mixed with a dark desire to upend expectations regardless of sense, is off-putting too. No-one will reach the end of this album the same person they were at the start.

Lord Sin – Confessions Track Listing:

1. Spectres
2. The Presence
3. Living Sin
4. Negligent
5. Guilt
6. Regret

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Larvae Records