Can you imagine what you’d say to yourself if you could transport back to 2019? I know me, personally, probably would be writhing in panic over what was coming, including the loss of several close family members. Add that to the numerous horrible events that face people every day, leaving a lot of broken hearts and souls to crawl to the finish line.
“Scarabaeus” is the debut record from Lividus, a Portland, Ore., band that creates a sound that is pretty impossible to describe in person, though a valiant effort will be made below. This record combines forces that played in other mammoth projects such as Witch Mountain, Ludicra, Dark Castle, and plenty of others, and nothing that they created here resembles any of those entities. Which makes this even more exciting. Focusing on trauma and its aftermath, the band— vocalist/viola player Uta Plotkin, guitarists Rob Shaffer and Christy Cather, bassist/backing vocalist Connie Wang, drummer Pierce Williams—warps metal and all of its various sounds, sometimes sounding like multiple different bands in one song. It’s a tremendous, exciting first step for a beast bound to melt boundaries.
The title track is an intro piece, guitars echoing, obscured calls ringing out, pushing into “Jettatori” that stirs and crushes, Plotkin’s dexterous voice snarling with shrieks and then belting out high notes. The playing sprawls and crushes, the singing swelters, the leads burst, and everything comes to a sinewy end. “Amphisbaena” corkscrews with the drums leading, howls battering and mangling, the rhythmic backbone contorting further. Singing wells as the leads energize, power bursting as Plotkin’s vocals emit split personalities. “Viaticum” reveals glowing guitars and singing that leaves welts, the menace rising as the clean parts dart, and the leads dizzy. Guitars spill as the pace stuns, the singing encompassing all colors of spirit, the volume powdering bone. “The Empty Circle” has the singing driving, the guitars working up a lather, the colors going from light to dark and back. Plotkin goes from aggressive wail to banshee shriek, strings weeping over the carnage, demonic cries tangling with operatic ascent. “they blew the flies from their lips before they spoke” is an instrumental piece, guitars dripping as strings give a dreamy glaze, speaking echoing and snarling, the fantasy fading into ash.
“Sealing the Wound” has howls punishing, the leads exploring different layers as the singing takes a brighter turn. The pace compels and breaks out of its comfort zone, growls crawling down walls, the drums plastering, clean singing returning and wrapping itself around warm leads. “Make No Mark” features Quinton Gardner on guest vocals and has a progressive feel, guitars swimming as howls lash, the bass gripping, Plotkin calling, “Locked inside, never again to feel the pain.” Harsh cries and jolting calls mix, liquifying and ending in a heart flutter. “Sulphur” mashes, the singing guiding across the thorny regions before growls emerge and clutch with all their might. Tornadic gusts pound as the song grows more sinister and agitated, Plotkin wailing, “You burn me like sulphur,” as basslines bubble, and the final moments uncoil. “The Aftermath of the Flood” blisters, screaming slashing, guitars racing over sharp crags of rock as Plotkin’s voice continues to wear many faces. The playing builds momentum as blood rushes, the singing dominates, and the drums leave everything in the dust. Closer “A Reminder Of” bathes in strange synth, strings echoing and a cosmic gait trampling, ending with psychedelic strangeness.
Lividus’ emergence is one of the more exciting things that have happened in metal this year, and while they’re still a little rough around the edges, I think that adds to their appeal. “Scarabaeus” is a volcanically promising start, one that bends heavy sounds in new directions and lets metallic elements melt and bubble into new creations. As much as I love this record, I’m just as excited and curious about where they go next.
For more on the band, go here: https://lividus.bandcamp.com/
To buy the album, go here: https://namelessgraverecords.com/collections/nameless-grave-records-releases
For more on the label, go here: https://namelessgraverecords.com/
Meat Mead Metal 