Being huge fans of Gothic Death/Doom Metal, it is quite a treat when we get promos from bands like Lycanthia that keep the genre alive and give it a push with their excellent release. In “Oligarchy” the band delivers eight tracks of majestic Gothic Death/Doom Metal in the same vein of bands like Draconian, Ashes You Leave, old Theater Of Tragedy, The Sins of Thy Beloved, etc. With more than 50 minutes of music, this release is quite emotional and very well-crafted, the perfect addition to any fan of the genre collection.

Opening with the nine-minute epic “The Essential Components of Misery”, we are immediately hooked by Vanessa Black and Megan Tassaker (Avrigus) enchanting vocals. Vanessa also handles the violin in this release, and it greatly adds that depressive atmospheric vibe that it is intended for. Lee Tassaker’s growls are a perfect fit, and the powerful riffs are just the stuff Doom dreams are made of.

The band has an excellent ear for epic melodic passages, like the very dramatic ones on “Forgone”. They also use keyboards to perfection to greatly accentuate their lavish atmosphere. With heavier tracks like “Ablaze The Wheel Turns”, we couldn’t keep ourselves from headbanging almost immediately. Alternating tempos is one of the band’s musical skills in their arsenal allowing tracks like “Despondency in Crescendo” to greatly work when switching between potent riffs and awesome keyboard interludes.

“Time Feeds This Wound” is one of our favorite tracks thanks to the dramatic opening and very melancholic nature. “Hair Of The Beast” and “From Ancestral Lands” nicely reminded us of Tristania, back in their “Beyond The Veil” days… the good old days of Gothic Death/Doom indeed. There has to be something magical in the water down in Australia, a country that has produced excellent Death/Doom and Gothic Doom bands like Mournful Congregation, Avrigus, Chalice and Elegeion.

“Oligarchy” is definitely one of the best Gothic Death/Doom Metal releases we have received in quite a while. The band combines excellent vocal arrangements with epic atmospheric elements and a very solid foundation of riffs, bass guitar and tight drumming. If you are looking for something to keep you up at night while Draconian and Doom VS finally decided to release something new, be sure to pick up a copy of this release through Hypnotic Dirge Records.

Rating: 90/100
Reviewed by: Dark Emperor