Black Lotus - Harvest Of Seasons
Bleak Art Records

file under black/pagan metal

Neithan: Black Lotus is a Canadian band with a Dutch singer: Jasper van der Veen, known in the underground from the in the meanwhile stopped Fluisterwoud. Other bands he has been involved in conclude Allfather (the Dutch one) and Heidenland, all respected names in the Dutch scene. Another thing which is prominently pushed is how gifted the artist Lindsey A. Kerr is: the band specifically requests to point out to everyone how multi-talented she is, and that we should not forget to make a reference to her site Lindscape Design. Furthermore, the band claims to play folk/ black metal inspired by the beauty of Vancouver Island. Well, on the basis of all this I would expect something that is raw yet melodic, and in combination with the emphasis to mrs. Ker’s work you would expect something really artistic: is the next Arcturus coming from Canada? Well no, and in all honesty I think that such a fuzz about a band who re-completed their line-up only last year is a bit exaggerated.

Black Lotus plays melodic black metal, yet does not exceed the average. The vocals remind a bit of Dimmu Borgir’s style: sometimes screaming like Shagrath (although I think it sounds more like Shamgar from Slechtvalk) and sometimes clear, yet not as high and dramatic as I.C.S. Vortex (Simen Hestnæs). Three names that go through my mind a lot when listening to this ‘Harvest Of Seasons’ are Dimmu Borgir, Sothis and especially Forlorn (R.I.P.): one American Dimmu Borgir inspired band and two Norwegian melodic black metal bands where the keyboards play a central part. When speaking of Dimmu Borgir, I am talking about the melodic side of the band, and not the tight thrashing passages they displayed on their latter albums. You might get the picture already: ‘Harvest of Seasons’ is a typical melodic black metal album with a prominent role for the keyboards, and I must admit the keyboards are used well. Yet I do not hear a real folkish or more rawish touch to it all. Just like Dimmu Borgir and especially Forlorn the band combines fast with epic passages, but never do I hear anything renewing or original, let alone something artistic or theatrical (there goes my expectation for the new Arcturus).

The album is well produced, the musicians master their instruments and the songs are well composed, yet I miss that X-factor. ‘Harvest Of Seasons’ has become a very decent album, but I miss something pure dark or raw (based on the Fluisterwoud experience) or something extra (the often stressed qualities of mrs. Kerr). Once more, not a bad album at all, yet nothing essential either.

Rating: 70/100 (details)

http://www.blacklotusmusic.net