Lustre creates ambient beauty from black metal terror on Blossom. Fairy-like keyboards and synthesizers come to the fore while the occasional guitars and drums lurk in the background.
This one-person project from Henrik Sunding builds its wistful atmosphere with melodies that unfurl as precisely as clockworks. Far from being schematizing they rather hypnotize. The continuous rise and fall reminds one of halcyon days that never were in the Romantic sense.
The lyric-less vocals evoke a profound sense of loss. As they creep underneath the keyboards they give a sense of doom to the symphonic allure. When the rapids take over on “Part 1” and “Part 3” subdued screams coupled with steady drums make for mournful moments .
Those segments alternate with a sorrowful calm that Sundring expands upon on “Part 2” and “Part 4”. The first revolves around a truly melancholic melody while he creates an air of mystique on the latter. It adequately ends an inspiring album from an accomplished sculptor of melodies.
Rating: Recommended