Lucifer V is the fifth album by the band Lucifer , which has been gaining considerable recognition within the scene, with its characteristic sound and led by vocalist Johanna Sadonis , owner of a voice that is easily recognizable.
Besides the frontwoman, the band consists of Nicke Andersson Platow on drums, Linus Björklund and Martin Nordin on guitars, and Harald Göthblad on bass, forming a perfectly aligned group.
The band's main influences are 70s hard rock, doom, and occult rock. Lucifer V has been described as "the best of the band's career," and its quality is evident.
The fast-paced rhythm is one of the album's biggest highlights, coupled with powerful guitar riffs and Sadonis's voice, which leaves no doubt as to who the song belongs to.
In an exclusive interview with Wikimetal , the vocalist explained that "death, love, loss, and grief" were the main inspirations for Lucifer's work, which begins with the good and fast-paced "Fallen Angel," kicking off the album and giving a spoiler of what's to come.
As mentioned, the guitar riffs on Lucifer V are a major highlight, and this track gives a glimpse of what the rest of the album will be like. The solo, though short, is precise.
A heavy, rhythmic doom-style introduction follows in the album. This quickly changes in "At The Mortuary," with the sound returning to something more hard rock. It's one of the album's highlights, with a melodic and well-executed chorus. Halfway through the track, the tempo slows down, and the music takes on a different character, almost as if it were two distinct parts.
“Riding Reaper” was written by Sadonis and guitarist Linus Björklund and, in the vocalist's words, presents a “classic image of death.” It's a high point of the record, again, with a good guitar riff and a great solo.
The album's faster pace slows down in "Slow Dance In A Crypt," one of the few more "tranquil" moments on Lucifer V , yet still powerful. The song is a beautiful ballad, with Sadonis's voice soft at times and heavier at others.
The track received a conceptual music video, this being the second part, which begins with "At The Mortuary." The vocalist explained that she wanted to express what it was like to lose someone very loved. "Of course, you know they'll never come back. But in this song, I dream about it."
After “A Coffin Has No Silver Lining” comes “Maculate Heart.” Its opening deceives those who think this will be just another acoustic ballad. The powerful drums follow, with all the instruments perfectly aligned.
Next, “The Dead Don't Speak” emerges as another high point of Lucifer V , with a rich melody and the best guitar solo on the record. Power is what describes the track.
“Strange Sister” precedes “Nothing Left To Lose But My Life,” and the album moves towards its final track. It has a great bass line, very present in the track, directly impacting it. With a siren sound mixed with the instrumental, the song ends, until the sound is alone.
It's possible to see Lucifer's evolution in Lucifer V. Although some songs are better than others, it's a good album, with no bad tracks. This record stands out in the band's career as a major highlight.
