Lunar Chamber – Shambhallic Vibrations

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One of the biggest surprises of the year in the genre of death metal comes from the Atlanta, Georgia progressive technical death metal band Lunar Chamber. The debut EP “Shambhallic Vibrations” was released on April 28th via 20 Buck Spin, which can be described as enlightenment through the practice of zen meditation and the experience of the music itself is mind-boggling and full of earworm hooks.

Musically, Lunar Chamber perfectly combines ultra-fast drumming, high technicality, and harmonious fretless bass with innovative songwriting prowess and the ability of the guitars to demonstrate the creativity of the band. It won’t take you long to realize that you have stumbled upon one of the most crafty bands in the subgenre. From the opening track “Intro (Shambhallic Vibrations)” you immediately get to hear the talent of the band, specifically from the fretless bass guitar and the atmosphere which engulfs your soul in some kind of spiritual therapy. The guitar riffs become the paradigm pushing the music to another cosmic dimension, every instrument vibrates and sends frequencies across the vast universe bringing tranquility to your mind and soul.

Lunar Chamber extracted its inspiration from bands like Atheist, Cynic, and other technical death metal bands. The riffing is also very complex which builds up the atmosphere as there are plenty of fast sections in the beginning of “Spirit Body and the Seeing Self” which is full of pummeling drums. The band consists of Timeworn Nexus (guitars, vocals), They, Who May Not Be Perceived (guitars, vocals) and Æther Lotus (fretless bass), and guest session member K. Paradis (drums). When hearing the music in-depth, you can feel the harmony of the bass guitar saturating the music with shimmering tones. And while the minimal synth is utilized in the composition, the sophisticated structural riffing clearly shows the aspect of technical/brutal death metal.

The riffs are multilayered, and they combine different elements of progressive death metal. The tempo changes are perfectly balanced, with the bass guitars inserting solos and the clean vocals creating many layers of textures that make it hard to follow each instrument. The guitars in “Interlude (Ancient Sage)” provides multilayered if not complex lush textures, the music always shifting to different styles. There are some elements pulled from the band Cynic which give us an overall sighting of the band’s progressive roots. As the fast drumming patterns explode like a monsoonal rain in the next song “The Bodhi Tree” it shows the wonderful phenomenal skills of the drummer who accelerates the pace at full velocity.

Powerful blast beats achieved by high accuracy, and deep guttural growls akin to the style of the band Demilich. There is one section midway through the song that highlights the excellent interplay of the slow riffs in the tempo, which boasts the technical and fast riffing work. Lunar Chamber successfully integrates a multidimensional approach. However, the riffing follows a certain pattern and has the sci-fi twist of progressive and brutal death metal. The gritty and atmospheric setting of the lofty guitars weaving through the walls of sound and the guttural focalization of Timeworn Nexus and They, Who May Not Be Perceived blends the Demilich-esque elements and makes the music a very unique experience.

The sonic details in the debut EP “Shambhallic Vibrations” transcends beyond the norms of death metal, in terms of musicianship Lunar Chamber unfolds an unusual concept that works out very interestingly in blending the technical death metal progressive elements. The approximately 13-minute closure “III. Crystalline Blessed Light Flows… From Violet Mountains Into Lunar Chamber” is a beautiful work of art steeped in the ethereal qualities of the guitar. The entire stylistic range begins with an ethereal soundscape that prepares the listener for spiritual tripping from its lush guitar riffs, ultra-blasting drums, and dual growls soaring over the backdrop of the meditative atmosphere. The slow pace of the drums provides ample full of space for the synth to paint shimmering violet images of the monastic golden temple, the music simply transcends and takes you to spiritual realms far away.

REVIEW SCORE

  • Music / Songwriting 9/10
  • Vocals / Lyrics 9/10
  • Mix / Production 9/10
  • Artwork & Packaging 9/10
  • Originality 9/10
9

Give yourself escapism of a modern-day zen meditation and listen to Lunar Chamber’s debut EP “Shambhallic Vibrations”. If you want some high-quality technical/progressive death metal, then I strongly recommend you to give this five-track EP a shot.

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