Alvaro Pacheco, Burning Black webzine [Chile]:

“Sonitus Caeli Ardentis” is the latest release of the Lithuanian label Ledo Takas, introducing two promising Lithuanian Black Metal acts. Opening this split Cd is Luctus, a solo project formed by Luctus in 2001, although the band include (as far as I know) three more members, those guys only contribute in live performances or as a session members. Despite of the relatively short carrier of the band, Luctus has released six works before this split album, including demos, an Ep and a couple of full length albums, all these “training” is reflected in this work delivering a violent blend of Thrash and Black Metal, reminding me a little (just a little) the sound of its countrymates of Dissimulation but more inclined toward the straight Black Metal sound, without the characteristical intense trashing melodies of the actual trio. The music here is mainly based in sharpened guitar riffs, escorted; most of the time, by high speed programmed beats which adds a huge destructive industrialized feeling. The vocal work here sounds slightly distorted, a little undercooked, adding up a freezing yet violent aura. Luctus bases its music in war-inspired patriotic themes, which explains the cruel and, at the same time proud feeling that surround the six track Luctus included in this Split, just listen to the fourth track, “Don’t Sign The Armistice!” and will know what this guy is talking about.
The second half of this Split album belongs to Argharus, a Black Metal quartet formed in 2004, the four tracks available at this Cd are the only recorded material (as far as I know) from this band, so we can consider this work as Argharus debut… and let me say… what a debut! The band plays a somewhat intrincated mid paced Black Metal, with lugubrious and somewhat martial/ritualistic atmospheres, merit of the hypnotic riffing that leads their music. The vocal work consists in pretty standard mid tuned blackish shrieks, but “spiced” with some guttural grunts as accompaniment. Although the music of Argharus could leave you the impression of “where I heard this before?” it sounds completely consistent, dark and overall aggressive, a really killer debut… “Sonitus Caeli Ardentis” is limited to 1313 units and, if you’re into the underground Black Metal, it would be a great addition to your collection.

 

Anna Tergel, Metallian website [Canada]:

I feel like such an ignoramus writing a review on two bands whose names and album title means nothing to me. The groups sharing this disc hail from Lithuania and play evil death metal. Luctus is a one-man project, while Argharus features four individuals. Neither band is directly comparable to the bigger names of the scene as far as sound or style in concerned. While both bands have all the ingredients that are necessary, evil vocals, speedy tempos, rapid rhythm changes and more, the fans will not be pointing at a song or passage as being copied from other groups. Certainly, names like Gorgoroth, early Borknagar or Marduk are relevant, but strictly as a genre.
Like many bands from Eastern Europe Luctus sings of war, nationalism and all that. The band also seems to use drum machines for obvious reasons. Argharus and its lyrics will remain a mystery to me, and anybody else, who has less than a commanding mastery of Lithuanian. Argharus’ side ends with a rare bass solo.
Both bands are intense and completely capable. The black metal cult has fresh blood. [70 / 100]

 

Antti Klemi, Imperiumi website [Finland]:

"Kuinka monta uutta liettualaista metallibändiä tiedät?" kysyy Ledo Takasin pressikirje. No, minulle olisi tehnyt vaikeaa keksiä liettualaisyhtyeitä muutenkin, mutta Sonitus Caeli Ardentis laajentaa maailmanmetallitietämystä kahden yhtyeen voimin – vaikkakin bändeistä toinen, Luctus, on siirtänyt päämiehensä mukana olemuksensa Italiaan.
Mitä tähän split-levyyn on uskominen, kyllä Liettuasta tulee ihan kovia äärimetallibändejä. Levyn alkupään täyttää tuo juuri mainittu Luctus, jonka biisit ovat jo kertaalleen ilmestyneet yhtyeen omakustanteella Monument of Hate. Yhtye – joka oikeastaan koostuu kitaristi/laulaja Luctusista – soittaa aggressiivista black/thrashia, johon viha kristittyjä vastaan, konekiväärien äänet ja räväkkä soittotyyli sopivat kuin puukko käteen. Biiseistä tuleekin hieman mieleen Disiplin: biisit rullaavat ärhäkästi eteenpäin, mutta myös black metalin kylmyydelle annetaan oma roolinsa. Vaikka rumpukone taitaakin Luctusin sotamarssia tahdittaa, ovat soundit inhimillisen karkeat. Kappaleista kuitenkin paistaa läpi omaperäisyyden puute ja jonkinlainen keskeneräisyys (esimerkiksi Don’t Sign the Armistice on aikamoista sekasoppaa), mutta itse tunnetta Luctus saa ladattua hyvin piippuunsa – etenkin kotimaalleen kumartava Už Lietuva! ylvistelee tyylikkäästi. Myös No Future (for Your Future) irvistelee tehokkaasti ihmisvihaisen thrashin voimin.
Supiliettualainen Argharus tyytyy kahta biisiä vähempään saaliiseen kuin Luctus, mutta onpa bändin luotisadekaarikin laveampi. Kuuden minuutin mittaiset kappaleet pysyttelevät Luctusta lähempänä black metalia, ja keskitempoisista kappaleista voi maistaa norjalaisen teräksen maun. Satyricon ja kumppanit ovat siis pyörineet tiuhaan Argharusin soittimissa, ja niinpä vihaiseen ulosantiinn sekoittuu aimo kasa kieronoloisia melodioitakin. Biiseissä hypitään blastista hitaampaan louhintaan, mutta bändin säröisä lähestymistapa jättää kappaleet jotenkin keskitason alueelle. Yhtyeellä on selvästi taitoa ja hieman ideaakin, mutta muutoin bändin julistava ja kylmä black metal jää genren suurien jalkoihin.
1313 kappaleen painoksena julkaistu Sonitus Caeli Ardentis on kokonaisuutena kuitenkin ihan passeli ja yhtenäinen paketti. Kummankin yhtyeen musiikista huokuu pakanallinen raivo ja julistus, mutta harmi vain, että nämä Liettuan nuoret toivot eivät vielä ole kasvaneet omiksi entiteeteikseen idoliensa varjoista. Aika näyttää, milloin nuorten versojen oksat varjostavat isovanhempiaan. Ei kuitenkaan vielä. [7 / 10]

 

Bjørn Nørsterud, Scream magazine [Norway]:

[vertimas]
Įdomūs dalykai dedasi metaliniame fronte rytuose, kaip pavyzdžiui šios dvi grupės iš Lietuvos. Čia kalbama apie dviejų jaunų ir daug žadančių grupių CD splitą, kur Luctus pasiima pirmąją premiją. Greitas, brutalus black metalas su doze melodijos užveža, tad Luctus gali greitai tapti pastebima grupe. Argharus taip pat nėra bloga grupė, žymiai nuožmesnė, bet čia kiek paveda gabalai ir pati produkcija. Vienok, tai idomus CD. [4 / 6]

 

BRN, Shapeless webzine [Italy]:

La Ledo Takas Records si e sempre dimostrata un'etichetta attenta nello scovare gruppi talentuosi provenienti dall'underground lituano -ovvero di casa, per chi non la conoscesse-, promuovendoli adeguatamente a livello internazionale. Eccola dunque proporci altre due interessanti realta, unite in uno split CD limitato a 1313 copie, al quale fara seguito anche una versione in vinile.
La prima parte dello split e riservata alle sei canzoni dei Luctus, in pratica un progetto del bassista/chitarrista/cantante Simonas "Luctus", nell'occasione coadiuvato dai session Sergejus (batteria) e Justinas (basso). Il gruppo ha alle spalle un paio di demo e il MCD "Ad Arma!".
Simonas ha trascorso buona parte della sua vita proprio qui in Italia, a Roma per la precisione, e difatti ha deciso di registrare le canzoni ai The Lair Studio, nella capitale. Giovane ma gia maturo e dotato di una certa verve, e fautore di un black metal per certi versi tradizionale, proposto in chiave attuale soprattutto per merito di una registrazione potente e di un tasso tecnico sopra la media. "World Of Blades", "Filthy Blood, Guts And Shit", "Už Lietuvą!", "Don't Sign The Armistice", "Age Of Decadence" e "No Future [For Your Future]" sono brani furiosi, tirati, permeati di uno spirito belligerante. La guerra sembra infatti uno dei temi piu approfonditi: l'intro di "World Of Blades" e l'inizio di "Už Lietuvą!", ad esempio, sono scanditi da rullate marziali, "Don't Sign The Armistice" parte con una marcia, seguita a breve da una sirena d'allarme e alcune scariche di mitra, e il finale di "No Future [For Your Future]" consiste in un arpeggio di chitarra accompagnato da tristi note di tastiera, con uno scenario di guerra sullo sfondo. L'effetto, in questo caso, e davvero caratteristico, da ascoltare.
Musicalmente, le sei canzoni di Luctus si basano su riff aggressivi, una sezione ritmica infaticabile, precisissima e devastante, e un cantato carismatico e aggressivo. Ci sono numerosi cambi, che denotano del talento a livello compositivo, e alcune trovate personali. I riff sono vari, ce ne sono di dirompenti cosa come di rocciosi e altri dotati di una particolare melodia, ma sempre carichi di tensione.
Quasi sempre sono presenti due chitarre, una ritmica e una, per cosa dire, solista (anche se in realtą c'e solo un assolo vero e proprio, su "Už Lietuvą!"), caratterizzata da un suono nitido, molto meno distorto. Questa seconda chitarra certe volte tende ad essere in netto primo piano. E' forse questo l'unico neo di una produzione comunque da incorniciare, potente, cristallina e perfettamente equilibrata, azzeccatissima per la musica.
Nel complesso, Luctus si dimostra un gruppo estremamente valido, capace di comporre canzoni brucianti e letali, ma talvolta anche d'effetto. Ci sono molte idee in questo split, per cui non aspettatevi pezzi monotoni e uguali tra loro. Ottima prova, non c'e che dire.
Passiamo allora la palla agli Argharus, un quartetto giovanissimo che debutta proprio con questo "Sonitus Caeli Ardentis". Il gruppo si e formato nel 2004 e si e fatto conoscere grazie ad alcune prestazioni live di rilievo. La band ha registrato del materiale ai Phoenix Studio in Lettonia e, tra le varie proposte, ha deciso di firmare per la Ledo Takas e inserire quattro canzoni in questo split.
Lo stile del gruppo e piu vicino al black tradizionale rispetto ai Luctus, sia per come le canzoni sono concepite (meno cambi improvvisi, cantato in scream basso piuttosto usuale, chitarre piu grezze e riff legati alla scuola black di meta anni '90), sia per la registrazione.
Troviamo dunque riff basati sui classici bicordi, momenti d'atmosfera, accelerazioni e mid tempo che si alternano in maniera piuttosto naturale e spontanea. C'e meno varieta nelle canzoni degli Argharus, ma comunque anche questo gruppo dimostra di sapere il fatto suo. Non ci sono cali di tensione evidenti, il riffing e spesso di qualita e non manca qualche spunto personale. I passaggi che si fanno notare fin dal primo ascolto sono meno, pern qualcuno e davvero intrigante, come ad esempio il finale di "Niekšas". L'esecuzione, anche in questo caso, e precisa e la qualita del suono sicuramente buona, visto il genere proposto (e la riprova che i Phoenix Studio sono una garanzia per i gruppi baltici).
A conti fatti, "Sonitus Caeli Ardentis" e un gran bello split. Le forze in gioco sono notevoli, ma ritengo che i Luctus vincano il confronto per merito di una maggiore personalita, mentre agli Argharus manca ancora qualcosa.
Da un punto di vista strettamente musicale, verrebbe da dire che i punti di contatto tra i due gruppi non sono molti, ciascuno suona black metal alla propria maniera, ma non siamo neanche agli antipodi, com'e logico che sia per uno split.
Insomma, in questo CD sono racchiuse due band che meritano di fare strada. Si tratta di un acquisto assolutamente consigliato, anche perche, oltre a tre quarti d'ora di black ben fatto, c'e anche un libretto di sedici pagine ricco di foto, immagini e comprendente tutti i testi.
Bella mossa della Ledo Takas, non c'e che dire. [ Luctus: 8 / 10, Argharus: 7 / 10]

 

Carcass, Hell Music website [Lithuania]:

Tai ką, ir vėl bleko ant Marijos žemelės padavė. Kaip niekad gausų šio žanro komandų ir vieno žmogaus projektų derlių nuėmėm praėjusiais metais. Galim pasidžiaugti, jog Lietuvoje šis stilius savo šaknis leidžia giliai ir tikėkimės, kad tokių grupių ar individų, kurie turės ką pasiūlyti mūsų išlepusiai publikai, atsiras dar daugiau. O visko apibendrinimui puikiai tinka naujas Ledo Takas Records leidinys "Sonitus Caeli Ardentis" pasiūlantis net dvi, turbūt labiausiai išgirtas praėjusiais metais grupes ARGHARUS ir LUCTUS.
Pirmas dalykas krentantis į akis - kokybiškas viršelio apipavidalinimas. Akių nerėžia jokie surūgusiais veidais corpse paint'u išsimarginę personažai, jokių juodmetaliui būdingų pentagramų ar kitokių ženklų. Taip pat didelis pliusas albumui ir ovacijos Svetimam Veidui.
Split'as pradedamas LUCTUS kūryba. Šeši gabalai, pilni besiveržiančios neapykantos ir patriotiškų jausmų gimtąjai šaliai. Lyginant su "Ad Arma", muzika paaštrėjusi, kūriniai greitesni, techniškesni, vietomis jaučiama thrash'ui būdingų elementų. Tačiau skambesys, kad ir kaip jis būtų pasikeitęs, vistiek jaučiama ta senoji LUCTUS dvasia iš "Ad Arma" laikų. Vienintelis dalykas rėžiantis ausį – vokalas. Tapęs agresyvesniu, aštresniu, man jis didelio žavesio nesukėlė. Jei reiktų rinktis tarp "Ad Arma" ir naujojo darbo, visgi rinkčiausi senąjį darbą. Dainų temos apie karą, patriotizmą, smerkiama kosmopolitinė visuomenė. Nors grupės lyderis vis dar gyvena Italijoje, tikėkimės jog greitu metu vėl galėsim išvysti gimtojoje žemėje su nauja programa.
Antrają albumo pusę tęsia, praeitų metų turbūt didžiausiu atradimu Lietuvos metalo scenoje tapę šiauliečiai ARGHARUS. Pateikiami keturi Phoenix studijoje (Latvija) įrašyti kūriniai. Vėl, kaip ir kolegų LUCTUS, muzika yra techniška, greita, vietomis persipynusi sudetingais gitarų rifais, tačiau ilgainiui tampa monotoniška ir nelabai išsiskirianti iš masės kitų juodmetalio grupių. Labiausiai įsiminęs kūrinys - tai jau anksčiau internete platintas „Niekšas“, turintis kažkokią specifinę atmosferą, kurios nepajutau kituose trijuose gabaluose. Sveikintinas dalykas yra tai, jog tekstus grupė rašo lietuvių kalba, todėl muzika įgauna to Lietuviško savitumo, kuriuo ir išsiskiria iš kitų grupių. Tai tik pradžia, manau, vyrai ateity dar parodys ką moka, viskas prieš akis.
Pabaigai, pirmiausiai reikėtų padėkoti "Ledo Takas Records" už naują kokybišką lietuvišką produktą. Rinkis prekę lietuvišką, kaip sakoma kažkur.. Prekę, kurią kiekvienas save gerbiantis Lietuvos juodmetalio fanas privalo turėti lentynoje. Abiejoms grupėms tai tik pradžia, tramplinas į tolimesnes juodojo metalo gelmes. Ne vienas tikimės, jog šios dvi kompanijos dar atsiskleis visu gražumu.

 

Daxx, Ferrum website [Lithuania]:

Pagaliau rankose laikau šį trylikos dienų „senumo“ ilgai lauktą leidinį. Pirmą kartą čiupinėjant diską į akis krenta puikus splito apipavidalinimas, paskutiniu metu tapęs kone prekiniu „Ledo Tako“ ženklu. Ilgokai pavartęs leidinį rankose šiaip ne taip radau dizaino „kaltininką“ – itin užslaptintą „Svetimą veidą“. Sveikinimai jam (ar jiems?) – padirbėta išties puikiai. Telieka įsitikinti, ar ir muzikinė (kitaip tariant, svarbiausia) produkto dalis tokia pat kokybiška. Pirmyn!
Albumą pradeda LUCTUS - karingo patriotiško juodmetalio vieno žmogaus grupė. Nenoriu pasakyti, kad tikėjausi kažko geresnio, tačiau kad kažko kito – tai jau tikrai. Su LUCTUS susipažinau perklausęs 2004-ųjų albumą „Ad Arma“, todėl akivaizdu, kokie buvo mano lūkesčiai. Šiame darbe Simonas gerokai pakeitė muzikos skambesį – ritminės gitarų figūros daug agresyvesnės, linkstančios į thrash metalą, kartais netgi į hardcore (na, tarkim „Filthy Guts, Blood and Shit“), būgnai aštresni, tačiau neįkyrūs, puikiai girdimas ir skambesiui daugiau konkretumo priduodantis bosinis būgnas, daugmaž „fūzuoti“ vokalai, mažiau melancholijos tiek muzikoje, tiek ir tekstuose. Kažkiek nustebino lengvas industrinis kvapelis, užuodžiamas jau albumo įžangoje. Šį „aromatą“ paaštrina bent jau mano ausiai į industrinę muziką apeliuojantys ir anksčiau minėti „fūzuoti“ vokalai.
Trumpai apžvelgsiu visus kūrinius, sudarančius šią albumo dalį. Taigi pirmoji kompozicija - „World of Blades“. Puiki, daug žadanti, niūri ir beveik apokaliptinė įžanga, užleidžianti vietą geram „gabalui“ energingo, gerokai tėškiančio į veidą metalo. Jau klausant šio kūrinio pasidaro aišku, kad Simonas visgi nepamiršo ankstesniajam albumui būdingos melancholijos, kuri čia saikingai ir skoningai persipina su agresija ir pykčiu.
Žygiuojam toliau. „Filthy Guts, Blood and Shit“ prasideda gitaros rifu, naiviai primenančiu karinį maršo ritmą. Tai netrunka ilgai ir ausis vėl užlieja energingi thrash/black rifai. Klausant šio kūrinio šiek tiek „užkliuvo“ maždaug įpusėjus trečiajai minutei prasidedanti ritminė makalynė. Ko gero, buvo norima išpešti kažkiek progresyvumo rimto sekcijoje, tačiau visa tai skamba kiek keistai ir... na, kiek ne savo vietoje. Trečiasis kūrinys – „Už Lietuvą!“. Neturiu ką ir pridėti prie to, kas jau buvo pasakyta ar parašyta apie šią kompoziciją. Labai geras patriotizmo užtaisas, įvyniotas į metalu blizgantį muzikinį popierėlį. Puiku!
„Don‘t Sign the Armistice“ prasideda gana nevykusiu, karių žygiavimą imituojančiu garso efektu. Puikiai suprantu, kad norėta perteikti karinę kūrinio bei viso albumo dvasią, tačiau pasirinkta vaizdinė priemonė – mažų mažiausiai nuvalkiota. Viena laimė, kad tai nė kiek negadina paties kūrinio, kuris savo skambesiu ir kovine dvasia tarsi susilieja su po jo sekančia kompozicija „Age of Decadence“. Paskutinis ir, ko gero, labiausiai mane sužavėjęs šios dalies kūrinys – „No Future for Your Future“. Tai, ką girdime, yra aukščiausios prabos thrash/black metalas, pagardintas mažiau „fūzuotu“ ir netgi kažkiek dainingu vokalu. Kūrinys baigiasi ramia gitaros partija, kuri tarsi piešia neįprastai melancholišką mūšio lauko peizažą. Šiuo būdu puikiai užbaigiama pirmojo albumo dalis, tarsi turinti visas reikiamas metalines kompozicines dalis – pradžią, galvos kratymą ir pabaigą.
Priešingai nei LUCTUS dalis, ARGHARUS ketvertuko pusė tartum nesusilieja į vientisą visumą. Tiksliau tariant, kūrinių nesieja tokie akivaizdūs ryšiai, kaip „intro“ ar „outro“, tačiau muzikine prasme jie sudaro vieną masyvų kūną.
Pirmasis kūrinys „Nusiramink Prieš Audrą“ išnyra lyg iš niekur. Man truputį nesuprantamas tas gitaros „atėjimas“ iš tylos, lyg nebūtų buvę galima kūrinio pradėti kitaip. Laimei, tolimesnė kūrinio eiga sutvarko visą reikalą. Jau pačioje pradžioje puikiai pateisinamas tokio reiškinio, kaip „blastbeat“ pavadinimas. „N.P.A“, kaip ir likę trys ARGHARUS kūriniai, pasižymi įdomiomis kompozicijomis. Standartinį juodmetalio „plakimą“ paįvairina lėtesnės ritminės partijos, šalti, kone industriniai, kažkiek Satyricon primenantys gitaros „užvažiavimai“. Vokalas nėra iškeltas į pirmą planą (kaip, tarkim, LUCTUS atveju), juodmetalinius klyksmus kartkartėmis maloniai pagardina žemas riaumojimas.
Antrasis ir, ko gero, mano mėgstamiausias kūrinys – „Pašauktas Delčios“. Didinga, gal netgi kiek pompastiška įžanga tiesia kelią energingai ir tuo pačiu atmosferinei kompozicijai. Ko jau ko, bet niūros, nihilistinės atmosferos ARGHARUS kūriniai tikrai nestokoja. Netgi ganėtinai thrashovai prasidedanti „Žvaigždės Aukštybėj Užges“ negriauna ARGHARUS kuriamos neapykanta persunktos, slogios atmosferos. Paskutinis kūrinys „Niekšas“ tiek lyrine, tiek ir muzikine prasmėmis karūnuoja ARGHARUS indėlį į „Sonitus Caeli Ardentis“. Energingi ir greiti ritminiai gitarų deriniai puikiai persipina su greitomis būgnų partijomis bei mizantropišku vokalu, spjaunančiu ydingai žmonijai į veidą.
In Summa. „Sonitus Caeli Ardentis“ – tai dar viena puošmena Lietuvos pogrindinės muzikos galerijoje. Albumas puikiai pateikia dvi viena už kitą jaunesnes komandas, įnešančias naujo tvaiko į mūsų mažą, bet akivaizdžiai besiplečiantį ir tobulėjantį, ekstremaliosios muzikos "pasaulėlį". [9 / 10]

 

Deimon, Stormbringer heavy zine [Austria]:

Um uns einen besseren Überblick in Sachen baltischem Black Metal zu geben, entschieden sich die Köpfe des Ledo Takas Labels, uns eine Split-CD mit 2 jungen Bands aus Litauen zu kredenzen. Sind wir uns ehrlich: über die dortige Szene ist nicht wirklich viel bekannt, umso löblicher kommt mir daher diese Veröffentlichung vor.
Schon alleine die Aufmachung dieses Silberdeckels ist State-of-the-Art: 16seitiges Booklet, sämtliche Texte, stimmungsvolles Cover und Jewelcase – so soll es sein!
Los geht das Massaker mit dem Ein-Mann-Terrorkommando LUCTUS. Die Band gibt es seit 2001, hat von 2002 – 2004 zwei Demos und eine Mini-CD in Eigenregie veröffentlicht und gibt nun mit diesen 6 Songs ihr offizielles Debüt, das weltweit erhältlich ist, ab. Da Herr Luctus laut Info eine längere Zeit in Rom verbrachte, wurden die Tracks auch gleich hier aufgenommen. Was mich daran etwas stört ist der eher miese Drumcomputer, mit echtem Schlagzeug wäre das Ganze sicher um einiges besser ausgefallen, zumal man ja live auf Sessionmusiker zurückgreift. Wie auch immer, geboten wird hyperschneller Oldschool Black Metal, der wie unaufhaltsames Dauerfeuer aus den Boxen schiesst – und der Namensgeber kotzt seinen Hass auf alles und jeden gekonnt ins Mikro. Quasi treffen hier DARK FUNERAL auf frühe DISSECTION, leider kann man noch nicht ganz deren Qualität erreichen... Nichts desto trotz ein guter Einstieg, und wenn man den Elektroknüppler entweder besser einsetzt oder gleich durch einen menschlichen Konterpart ersetzen kann, dürfte die Band sicher das eine oder andere Zeichen setzen.
Im Gegensatz zu LUCTUS handelt es sich bei ARGHARUS um eine „richtige“ Band. Gegründet 2004, verschrieb man sich auch hier der dunklen Seite der Macht, allerdings geht man deutlich noch oldschooliger zu Werke. Hier wird vor allem DARK THRONE und alten SATYRICON gehuldigt. Wie Ihr schon aus der Trackliste entnehmen könnt sind sämtliche Texte in der Landessprache der Band verfasst, was allerdings – im Gegensatz zu beispielsweise OBTEST – nicht wirklich auffällt, denn der Sänger keift und krächzt durchaus gekonnt... und verstehen tut man sowieso kein Wort, selbst wenn alles auf Englisch wäre. Bei der Musik selber wird ein grosses Augenmerk auf Abwechslung gelenkt, hier treffen Blastteile auf thrashige Parts, nur um dann plötzlich einige ruhige Stücke einzuflechten. Das gelingt über die ganze Distanz ziemlich gut, sodass ARGHARUS definitiv die besseren Songs am Start haben.
Wie auch immer, Ledo Takas Records zeigen einmal mehr, dass im Baltikum einige Perlen sind, die es zu entdecken gibt. So gebe ich für LUCTUS 2,5 und für ARGHARUS 3,5 Points, also im Durchschnitt einen guten 3er. Check it out! [3 / 5]

 

DemonDust, Metalrage website [Netherlands]:

Ledo Takas Records presents us this split album with what they call the new generation of Baltic black metal. Two Lithuanian based bands, ready to carry the torch of all that is grim and evil further into the future. They are called Luctus and Argharus, and although I don’t care about the meaning of those names, I’m about to find out what they sound like.
Luctus is a one man project playing old school black metal, but with a very modern and clear production. The six songs provided by Luctus have some nice sampling, occasional cool grooving riffs, and of course the fast bashing parts. Those fast parts actually sound a little dreamy to me at some times, mostly because of the clear guitar sound, even though the music is brutal as hell. Add some good vocals and I would say that indeed a worthy addition to the Lithuanian black metal scene has risen.
The other band is called Argharus, and they posses a lesser production sound than Luctus. But also here I must confess I find the guitars to sound a bit dreamy, which is a plus of course. But the drum sound isn’t really optimal, and I’m not too impressed by the vocals either. Therefore the music as a whole doesn’t really grab me, or my attention for that matter. The sound isn’t nearly as aggressive as Luctus’ and it lacks a lot of groove as well, so I can’t really say that I’m actually digging this band. Can’t say that it’s bad though, just less interesting after you just heard the band before. Perhaps in a live situation they will manage to convince more easily.
My opinion is that Ledo Takas Records might be right about this being the new future of Baltic black metal, although a noticeable difference in quality between both bands is definitely there, but this might also be due to the recordings themselves. Fans of the genre should surely check these two bands out. [74 / 100]

 

DiEvA, Giljotina website [Lithuania]:

Mano grotuve – bendras dviejų atlikėjų albumas (retas paukštis Lietuvos metalo scenos tyruose), tradiciškai, nesilaužant liežuvio, vadinamas "splitu". Tai pirma. Antra – esu girdėjusi gandų, kad abi grupės, dalyvaujančios šiame velnio darbe, laikomos didžiosiomis mūsų metalo scenos viltimis (nepamirškime, kad tai abiejų oficialus debiutas). Trečia, pirmą kartą gyvenime užtrukau tiek ilgai, kol "išgimdžiau" recenziją kaip objektyvų ir konstruktyvų albumo įvertinimą.
Apie viską nuo pradžių: "Sonitus Caeli Ardentis", talpinantis grupių Luctus ir Argharus kūrybą, išleistas 2007 03 13 Ledo Takas Records.
Luctus – vieno žmogaus (Simono, a.k.a. Luctus), reziduojančio Italijoje, projektas.
Argharus – Šiaulių black metal fronto pasididžiavimas.
Luctus – sakyčiau, militant black/thrash. Skambesys – sąžiningas old-schoolas. Aštrūs gitaros rifai, rėžiantis, agresyvus vokalas, intensyvus baterijos darbas, tratančių kulkosvaidžių epilogas – sakyčiau, harmoninga, jeigu šis terminas neprieštarautų pačiai metalo prigimčiai. Mano favoritas – "Don't Sign the Armistice" dėl idėjos ir muzikinės išraiškos vienovės.
Argharus" – šiaurietiško black metalo antrosios bangos mokiniai. Masyvus, veržlus gitarų skambesys, metronomo tikslumu mušanti sunkioji artilerija, išbaigtos kompozicijos – savo pamoką jie išmoko gerai. Rekomenduoju "Žvaigždės aukštybėj užges", smogiantis kūrinys – štai jums maištas gryniausiu pavidalu.
Tačiau (juk žinojote, kad dabar išmušė "tačiau" valanda) abiejų grupių kūryboje pasigedau savitumo. Ilgai svarsčiau rinkdamasi kriterijus ir žodžius. Lietuvos sunkiosios muzikos padangėje ir Argharus, ir Luctus išsiskiria ir originalumu, ir savo meistryste – iš jaunų atlikėjų retokai gali to tikėtis. Tai džiugina. Vis dėlto tarptautiniuose vandenyse vien meistrystės nepakaktų – šios  grupės beregint įsilietų į bendrą naujokų masę. Vis dėlto tiek vienas, tiek ir antrieji turi pakankamai parako, kad nepaliautų ieškoti savitumo ir siekti muzikinės brandos – natūralu, kad, bent pastarajam dalykui, reikia laiko.
Grynai techninės pastabos – puikus dizainas (Svetimas Veidas), reprezentatyvus leidinys (slipcase), kokybiškas garsas (Ledo Tako leidiniuose tai jau tampa norma), kolekcinė vertybė (riboto tiražo – 1313 vnt. – leidinys).

[translation]
Loading up my CD player with a rara avis (in the context of my homeland Lithuania only) - a split album. That stands for "firstly". Secondly – I‘ve heard that both bands involved in this diabolical deed are believed to be high and grand in the future of our metal underground (not to forget! – this is an official debut release for both bands). And last – this is the first time in my life it took me so long to "give birth" to an album review meaning an objective and constructive evaluation of the album.
Luctus is a "one man project", man himself – Simonas, a.k.a. Luctus – residing in Italy.
Argharus – the centrepiece of Šiauliai black metal front.
Luctus – militant black/thrash to my mind. Sounding upright old-school. Raw guitar riffing, aggressive scream vocals, highly intense drumming, the epilogue of the ruffling machine-guns – might be the word "harmonious" just what we need here if we were not clear it's metal we're talking about. My favourite – "Don't Sign the Armistice", for the unity of the idea and the musical expression.
Argharus are the children of the Nordic black metal. Massive and aggressive guitars, heavy artilleries beating as regularly as clockwork, complete, elaborate compositions – they've learned their lesson well. Highly recommended – "Žvaigždės aukštybėj užges", here you are: a real rebellion.
The thing I miss here is individuality (or perhaps originality would be more suitable in English here?) in the works of both bands.  I considered lots of criteria for the evaluation. Both Argharus and Luctus are characterized by the originality and mastery of the technique. Cool. It would not be enough internationally-wise though – these bands would face the threat of being just somebody out of many. Nonetheless both, the "one man project" and the band, have energy enough to carry on the quest of their original sound and to seek the creative maturity (at least this last one takes time).
Technical comments: great design (Svetimas Veidas), presentable release (slipcase etc.), good sound quality (becoming a regular practice for Ledo Takas production), collectable (limited edition – 1313 copies only).

 

Diovis, Mroczna Strefa website [Poland]:

Wieki temu dotarly do mnie kasetowe kompilacje "Dark Fire Dancing" wypuszczone przez litewska Dangus Productions. Prezentowano na nich podziemna scene metalowa i okoliczna z trzech nadbaltyckich krajow, czyli Litwy, Lotwy i Estonii. Zdarzaly sie wsrod nich prawdziwe perly i przyznam, ze do dzis kilka blackmetalowych (ale nie tylko) bandow z tego skladaka wywiera na mnie spore wrazenie. Niepokoi mnie jedynie, ze o wielu tych hordach sluch zaginal i oslabily one w ten sposob juz i tak niewielka scene w tych panstwach. Bo tak naprawde, to gro wartosciowych zespolow z tamtego rejonu wydaje Ledo Takas Records (DISSIMULATION, OBTEST, URSKUMUG, LOITS), a inne, juz mniejsze firmy, wydaja kilka innych. A mlodych twarzy brakuje... Szczesliwie wspomniany chwile temu wydawca postanowil zainwestowac w split dwoch "newcomers". Pierwszy z nich to LUCTUS, stworzony przez mieszkajacego we Wloszech Luctusa (tak, nie tylko Polacy wyjezdzaja za granice ;) Ow osobnik popelnil juz dwie demowki, na temat ktorych nie lubi sie wypowiadac, mini-album "Ad Arma!" z 2004 roku i szesc numerow, ktore znalazly sie na "Sonitus Caeli Ardentis". I powiem wam, ze spodziewalem sie jakiegos przecietnego stuffu, a uslyszalem kawal dobrze brzmiacego, agresywnego jak jasna cholera i podlego jak wkurwiona tesciowa black metalu w starym stylu, podrasowanego odrobina oldskulowego thrash metalu i "Darkthronowskiej" melodyki. Odruchowo probowalem znalezc podobienstwa do ktorejkolwiek z egzystujacych formacji (taki dziennikarski odchyl), ale moge napisac, ze LUCTUS inspiruje sie norweska scena B.M., lecz robi to w swiezy sposob. Zeby bylo ciekawiej, Luctus nagral wszystkie wokale, partie gitary i basu, a wspomogl go sesyjnie jedynie bebniarz A. i wszystko wyszlo znakomicie. Brzmi to czysto, bardzo do przodu, z werwa, konkretnie i militarystycznie (dzieki uzyciu kilku sampli). LUCTUS kasuje 99% wloskich kapel blackmetalowych (bo nie od dzis wiadomo, ze poziom ich sceny jest po prostu zenujacy). Podoba mi sie to, co nagral ten zespol i polecam niedowiarkom przekonanie sie o tym nausznie. A moze i naocznie, bo grupa grywa koncerty z pomoca sesyjnych muzykow z Wloch i Litwy (w zaleznosci od tego gdzie graja).
Druga polowe splitu wypelniaja cztery numery hordy kryjacej sie pod szyldem ARGHARUS. I tu juz niestety nie mam dobrych wiesci, bo takiego black metalu powstaje na kopy w roznych czesciach swiata. U nas lepiej gra w takiej stylistyce chocby BESATT i w podobnej estetyce obraca sie rzeczony band. Mlodziaki graja od konca 2004 roku, wiec mozna im jeszcze wybaczyc to, ze nie wnosza nic nowego swoim graniem. Odtwarzaja klasyczny black, staraja sie grac rowno i zgodnie z kanonami tego stylu. Troche popracowali nad zmianami tempa, ale nie wychodza poza przecietnosc. Czteroosobowa ekipa musi jeszcze przejsc swoj chrzest, by wniesc cos ciekawego i przykuc uwage na wiecej niz dwa czy trzy przesluchania. Skoro jednak Ledo Takas w nich uwierzylo, to moze jeszcze beda z nich ludzie. [8 / 10 Luctus, 5 / 10 Argharus]

 

Dirk, Iron Pages website [Germany]:

Noch 'nen Zacken schärfer sind LUCTUS. Das rumpelt ziemlich im Kasten, wenn die littauische Schwarzbrigade ihre Black Metal-Version im vom Rumpel-Thrash ispiriertem Stil runterschrubbt. Eigentlich selten, dass ein Ein-Mann-Projekt so zielstrebig die Sau raus lässt. Zumeist haben ja unsere Eigenbrötler dermassen verquere Ideen auf denen sie beharren, dass sie mit anderen wohl kaum auf einen Nenner kommen. LUCTUS ist aber der Nenner. Famos auch die rausgerotzten Schreie. Nicht ganz so cool wie seinerzeit bei CELTIC FROST aber genauso sinnlos. »Sonitus Caeli Ardentis« ist jedoch leider keine vollwertige LUCTUS-Scheibe. Das ist nämlich 'ne Split mit ARGHARUS. LUCTUS ist zwar songtechnisch in der Überzahl, manntechnisch ist der zweite Teil aber eine volle Band. Songtechnisch fallen sie dagegen ab. Zwar ist die Band durchaus noch ganz okay zu nennen, im direkten vergleich muss ich aber LUCTUS bevorzugen. ARGHARUS sind schon ein wenig zu Black Metal-typisch poliert. Das fetzt nicht so richtig, trifft meinen Nerv nur bedingt. Ein komplettes Album würd ich mir aber auch mal von Ihnen reinziehen wollen. Doch im Moment denke ich nur daran, wie LUCTUS überhaupt Live auftreten will. Denn das täte nach dem starken Lebenszeichen echt Not!

 

Divine, Dagheisha website [Italy]:

Interessante split a cura della Ledo Takas che propone due realta ossessive della scena black lituana al fine di battere un colpo in un momento di pericolosa stasi senza uscite di alcun rilievo. Registrato tra la Lettonia (Phoenix Studios) e il nostro paese (The Lair Studios) e accompagnato da un booklet di sedici pagine 'Sonitus Caeli Ardentis' e una testimonianza forte e attuale di come il germe del male non smetta mai di mietere le proprie vittime e ricostruirsi un'essenza concreta per quanto spinto al livello piu basso degli inferi. Gli Argharus rispondono con brutalita innata ai respiri malati di Luctus in una ferale enfasi generale che fara gridare al miracolo i 'colti' appassionati del genere. Per coloro che non hanno perso il vizio l'occasione di riappropriarsi di atmosfere care all'anima e al corpo.

 

Elimar Oliveira, Thundergod webzine [Brazil]:

Split-Cd unindo duas hordas Black Metal lituanas, Luctus formada por um unico membro Luctus (guitarras, baixo e vocal) com a ajuda de duas almas condenadas Sergejus (bateria) e Justinas (baixo) e das dez composicoes as primeiras seis “World Blades”, “Filthy Blood”, “Uz Lietuva!”, “Don´t Sign the Armistice”, “Age of Decadence” e “No Future (for your future) sao do Luctus. Percebe-se grande influencia Death Metal no som do Luctus com uma pegada de dois bumbos marcante nas composicoes, e suas letras falam sobre guerra, patriotismo, mas nao confunda com nacionalismo! As quatro seguintes faixas, do Argharus, “Nusiramink pries Audra”, “Pasauktas Delcios”, “Zvaigzdes Aukstybej Uzges” e “Nieksas” segue a mesma influencia da banda que a antecede mas vale ressaltar que o Argharus e formado por membros fixos Auktuma (baixo/voz), Furor (guitarra), Pestiferos (guitarra) e Opacus (bateria) e suas letras retratam temas mais introspectivos como niilismo, misantropia e misticismo.

 

Erilar, Feindesland website [Germany]:

Nicht schön, aber selte.
Uns sind ja schon so einige Tonträger aus dem Hause Ledo Takas Records in's Haus geflattert. Auch wenn nicht alles "state of the art" war, so konnten alle Bands bisher zumindest mit einer gewissen Eigenständigkeit glänzen. Das mag daran liegen, dass dieses Label ausschliesslich Bands aus dem Baltikum signt... irgendwie scheint durch die Metalszenen dieser neuen osteuropäischen Europa - Mitglieder schon so etwas wie ein frischer Wind zu wehen.
Der neueste Output ist ein Split... laut Labelinfo sind darauf die Hoffnungsvollsten Newcomer der Litauischen Black Metal - Szene vertreten. Klingt vielversprechend! Riskieren wir mal ein Ohr!
Den Anfang machen LUCTUS, und den machen sie auch verdammt gut. Die Musik, die diese Herren (oder man sollte besser sagen "dieser Herr"; es handelt sich um ein Soloprojekt mit Gastmusikern) machen ist ein wahres Feuerwerk. Die Musik knallt ohne Ende, auch unterstützt durch die druckvolle, klare und aggressive Produktion, die dennoch nicht zu clean ist. Man bewegt sich musikalisch etwa in der DARK FUNERAL - Ecke, allerdings kommt ein guter Schuss 80er - Thrash hinzu. Die Band bleibt nahezu immer im Hochgeschwindigkeitsbereich. Auf die Dauer wird das, wie nahezu jede Bolzplatte, leider etwas langweilig. Aber das ist ja auch Geschmackssache. Für ein Debut ist die Musik sehr hochklassig, Technisch versiert und verfügt zudem noch über ein gewisses Mass an Eigenständigkeit.
Textlich geht es ganz schön Menschenfeindlich zu... da wird der Humanismus in den Dreck getreten, die Werte der westlichen Welt angezweifelt und massenweise musikalisch "gemordet". Na gut, das kann man so schreiben, aber sonderlich neu ist es nicht.
Unter dem Strich trotzdem ein guter Einstand für LUCTUS, und bei weitem besser als der ganze unausgegorene Mist, der ansonsten so in der "Szene" kursiert.
ARGHARUS gehen musikalisch in eine ähnliche Richtung, wobei die Betonung aber tatsächlich nur auf "ähnlich" liegt. Sie sind etwas weniger aggressiv als LUCTUS, statt dessen legen sie mehr Wert auf Atmosphäre und gefühlvollere Riffs. An die Stelle von DARK FUNERAL tritt hier eher älterer norwegischer Schwarzstahl... ein Hauch 80er sowie höheres Tempo finden sich auch hier. Dennoch fällt mir aber spontan keine Band ein, die sich näher mit ARGHARUS vergleichen liesse, also findet sich auch hier ein gewisses Mass an Eigenständigkeit... eventuell könnte man SKYFORGER (aber ohne Folk Elemente!) oder BEHEMOTH zu "Sventevith" oder "Grom" - Zeiten damit in Verbindung bringen, aber auch in diesem Falle ist die Produktion bei weitem besser ohne die nötige Räudigkeit einzubüssen.
Zu den Texten kann ich leider in diesem Falle gar nichts sagen, da ich nicht des Litauischen mächtig bin.
Unter dem Strich ist aber auch das Material von ARGHARUS als überdurchschnittlich guter Einstand zu werten!

Fazit:
Ein guter Split, dem man jedem Black Metal - Fan empfehlen kann, der vielleicht einmal auf der Suche nach etwas Kuriosem oder Besonderen ist, ohne gleich in experimentelle Gefilde abdriften zu wollen. Beide Bands besitzen die nötige Eigenständigkeit und die nötigen Fähigkeiten, um sie auf dem Markt behaupten zu können. Und man kann gespannt sein, was sie in Zukunft daraus machen! Für verwöhnte Hörer wird diese Veröffentlichung aber dennoch zu "normal" und durchschnittlich sein, denn der Stahl wurde hier nicht neu erfunden! [Innovation: 2 / 15, Gesamt: 11 von 15]

 

Fred, La Horde Noire webzine [France]:

Le label Ledo Takas nous présente ici la jeune garde de la scene lituanienne. Deux hordes décidées a semer le chaos absolu!
LUCTUS ouvre les hostilités avec un black metal completement furieux et guerrier. Simonas alias Luctus expose fierement son patriotisme dans une oeuvre purement musicale. Le titre «Uz Lietuva» va tout a fait dans ce sens. On y trouve, comme dans chacun des cinq autres titres en anglais, des influences thrash rappelant ainsi Tsjuder: riffs acérés purement black avec des pauses thrash laissant l’auditeur sans répit. Le slogan est clair: tout doit disparaitre!
Dans une atmosphere plus rituelle, les quatre damnés d’ARGHARUS reprennent le flambeau: un black metal intense et nihiliste sortant des abysses pour nous y plonger tout droit. Dans un style proche de Dark Funeral ou Watain, Le groupe apporte aussi un son tres personnel et c’est tout a son honneur. Les blasphemes en lituanien soulignent aussi l’enracinement a une terre ayant connu les affres de l’histoire.
Cette oeuvre commune est donc a découvrir sans hésiter. Un déluge qui ne laissera aucun survivant! [9 / 10]

 

Frederik, Corazine website [Belgium]:

Ledo Takas usually releases the finest of Lithuanian metal, cf. bands like Obtest and Urskumug. The newest release, however, is a split, introducing two relatively young black metal formations. The first is Luctus, a one-man project, but for the occasion with a real drummer (what a relief). The production is very agreeable as it evades any chaotic moments, but still allows the intended rawness and aggression to have their impact. Luctus applies the traditional blastbeat and doublekick formula: the songs are heavily reliant on catchy, non-stop tremolo riffage. The few moments where the pace slows down are not always that interesting (e.g. the beginning of "Filthy blood, guts and shit"). The compositions are usually catchy and keep your attention, but originality is sometimes lacking, for example "Uz Lietuva!" has some weak Marduk-esque riffs in it.
Argharus then, is the second band. This split is their first studio effort/release (and Luctus' fourth). Production-wise, this band is on the same level as their companions, but they differ somewhat in style. Argharus' black metal is more melodic and more often midtempo. Though they are not the most original either, their approach gives the songs more atmosphere (but less grimness) than Luctus. Personally, I favor Argharus above Luctus, but that's simply because the style is more to my liking. Those who favor icecold, straightforward and uncompromising black metal, will surely find Luctus great. Still, both bands are of a decent level, and consequently put together a strong split album.

 

Gustavo C, Estigia webzine [Argentina]:

Directo desde Lituania nos llega este Split-CD compartido por dos jovenes bandas: Luctus (formada en el 2001) y los debutantes Argharus, ambas enroladas en el mas intransigente Black Metal. Empecemos por Luctus, que es la banda que abre la placa: se trata del proyecto unipersonal de Simonas (a) Luctus, que es quien se encargo de todas las guitarras, bajo y voces (al igual que en su otro proyecto llamado Fuck Off and Die!, alli bajo el apodo de Kommander L), acompanado por un baterista de sesion apodado Agares. Son seis los temas que aportan al split, aunque a decir verdad todas las canciones ya habian aparecido en el disco anterior llamado Monument Of Hate del 2006. Black Metal aguerrido y veloz con cierto tinte Thrash/Death, (por ejemplo en el riff inicial de Uz Lietuva! o en Filthy Blood, Guts and Shit) es el estilo elegido por Luctus para lanzar sus agresivas proclamas a favor de la guerra y la destruccion con la voz desgarrada y llena de odio contra la humanidad, reforzado todo por simples de ametralladoras, sirenas y demas efectos belicos. Como detalle podemos agregar que como invitado haciendo coros en el tema No Future (For Your Future) hallamos a Nefarius, companero de Agares en la banda italiana Throne Of Decadence.  En cuanto a Argharus, la otra banda que aparece aqui representada, se trata de una agrupacion formada en el 2004 e integrada por Auktuma en bajo y voz, Furor y Pestiferos en guitarras y Opacus en bateria. Esta es la primera grabacion que realizan y la verdad es que suenan competentes y certeros en la ejecucion de los temas, ayudados por una produccion que, sin ser brillante, permite el disfrute de cada instrumento y sobre todo de la bateria de Opacus, de destacable labor a lo largo de los cuatro temas que ofrece Argharus. Los temas alternan partes rapidas y no tanto y es de agradecer la variedad de riffs y ritmos que hacen mas agradable la escucha, lo que sumado a las virtudes tecnicas de ambos guitarristas redondean un promisorio debut y generan expectativa para futuros trabajos.

 

Jeroni Sancho, Executioner webzine [Spain]:

Otra vez este excelente sello lituano nos presenta material proveniente de su pais, aunque en esta ocasion en forma de split CD, y protagonizado por dos jovenes bandas, la primera formada en el 2001 (Luctus) por un unico miembro, el cual vive en Roma, pero no ha olvidado su nacion de origen, y que en su formacion de directo cuenta con miembros de bandas como Fuck Off and Die!, Ossastorium, GodZero, Nahash, Ghouls, Throne of Decadence o Ars Onirica, con dos discos y varias demos anteriores, y la segunda formada en el 2004 y que se estrena con este CD. Ambas bandas tienen pequenos toques que recuerdan a la escena de Europa del Este, asi como algunos roces hacia el Death Metal, pero paso a describirlas a continuacion.
Centrandonos en Luctus, desde el primer momento hay una serie de puntos que marcan la escucha. Uno es lo melodico, aunque oscuro, que es su sonido, un poco al cruce de Emperor y Dissection, pero con mas cana, bastante directos; por otra parte esta la bateria, que o es una caja de ritmos o es electronica, lo cual le da un sonido bastante particular a los temas, como podeis imaginar, un poco "industrial". En conjunto, si os haceis una idea, digamos que podrian recordar un poco al primer album de los ingleses Anaal Nathrakh y tambien algo a los franceses Ad Hominem, por lo desquiciantes que suenan, sobretodo en las partes rapidas, comparandolos con ambos casos, y por algun toque marcial que recuerda a los franceses, aunque no faltan las melodias disonantes a medio tiempo. La produccion ademas es bastante buena, algo aguda tal vez, pero no le falta potencia, y en conjunto los temas suenan muy agresivos, con una voz rabiosa que imprime mucha fuerza a las letras, que como viene siendo habitual en las bandas de ese pais (al menos las que conozco), se centran en el patriotismo y la guerra.
Pasando a la segunda parte del compartido, Argharus no es que se alejen muchisimo del sonido de los primeros, pero si tienen algunas diferencias bastante notables. Para empezar, estos si usan una bateria real, y esta imprime un sonido bastante diferente a su musica, pero no es que bajen mucho la velocidad. Su Black Metal tambien es bastante melodico y tambien usa acordes disonantes, pero juega un poco mas con los medios tiempos algo pesados, algunas partes mas depresivas, y en general recuerda algo menos a la escena nordica, no suena nada tipico la verdad. Por su parte, se centran el la misantropia y el nihilismo, y vocalmente no son tan agudos.
Como viene siendo costumbre por parte de Ledo Takas, el CD, limitado a 1313 copias, viene con una presentacion impresionante, un libreto de doce paginas bellamente ilustrado y las letras de los temas, vamos, que no es un CD cutre de los que tanto abundan por ahi.
Asi que, todo aquel que guste del Black Metal del este de Europa, con raices nordicas, aqui hay un buen CD de cuarenta y seis minutos de duracion. [7 / 10]

 

Jeroni Sancho, Voices From The Darkside webmagazine [Germany]:

Again, this excellent Lithuanian label gives us some stuff of its own country, although this time it's a split CD by two young bands. The first one formed in 2001 (LUCTUS) by only one member, which lives in Rome but hasn't forgotten its country, and has in its live line-up members of bands like FUCK OFF AND DIE!, OSSASTORIUM, GODZERO, NAHASH, GHOULS, THRONE OF DECADENCE or ARS ONIRICA, with two albums and some demos before this. And the second one was formed in 2004 and starts with this CD. Both bands have slight touches that remind the East European Black Metal scene, and some Death Metal riffs too, but I will describe them now. Starting with LUCTUS, since the first moment there are some points that mark the listening. One is how melodic they sound, although dark, a bit like EMPEROR and DISSECTION, but faster and straighter; on the other side, there's the drum sound, a bit "industrial". Altogether, if you can imagine it, we can say it reminds a bit of the first album of UK's ANAAL NATHRAKH and a bit of French AD HOMINEM, because of how mad they sound, especially in fast parts, comparing them to both cases, and for some martial parts which remind of the French, although dissonant midpaced melodies are there too. The production is quite good too, a bit high perhaps, but it doesn't lack in power, and the songs sound quite aggressive, with hatred vocals that give a lot of strength to the lyrics, which, as usual with bands of that country (or the ones I know), are about patriotism and war. Going to the second part of the split, Argharus are not so far from the sound of the first ones, but have some noticeable differences. First, the use a real drumkit, and that gives a different sound to the music, pero they still keep the speed. Their Black Metal is really melodic too, and uses dissonants riffs, but they play a bit more with heavy midpaced parts, and some depressive ones, and generally remind a bit less of the North European scene, they are not typical at all in fact. On their side, they speak about misanthropy and nihilism, and the vocals are not as high. And, as it's starting to be usual with Ledo Takas, the CD, limited to 1313 copies, has a great artwork, with a twelve pages booklet full of drawings and the lyrics of the songs. So, this isn't one of those shitty CDs you can find so easily. So, for the ones liking East European Black Metal, with Northern roots, this is a good fourty-six minutes CD.

 

Joe Mlodik, Lunar Hypnosis webzine [USA]:

The latest from Lithuania’s Ledo Takis Records is a split between Lithuanian bands Luctus and Argharus. Luctus, which is basically the solo project of the man of the same name has been around since 2001 and to date has released two demos, one EP, two full length albums, a best of compilation, and now this split with newcomers Argharus. While this band is basically a solo endeavor there still are session live members and a session drummer participated for this recording.
Musically Luctus is fast hard hitting brutal blackened thrash metal that’s not entirely different from such acts as Carpathian Forest or Absu, but Luctus seems to be a bit faster and I think they definitely have their own identity. What makes them similar is the use of harsh black metal screaming and the large amount of absolutely killer head banging riffs and quality drumming. Other similarities I see to Carpathian Forest would be the rocking groove riffs that at least for me really manage to get me going until the band hits with more brutal music. I really can’t say which song is best because frankly they are all completely excellent. Musicianship, catchiness, vocally, the large amount of hate present, its all good by me and Luctus excels at it marvelously and I can definitely tell you I’m going to be checking out more from this band.
Argharus is a relatively new band formed back in 2004, although they have no demos behind them and there members have no affiliations with any other bands. Musically these guys offer up more black metal in a speedy to mid-paced range. There music basically alternates between blistering fast playing to a slightly less speedy style that is filled with decent riffs and great tormented screams. There performance isn’t as stunning as Luctus’, but the four songs here are still passable and I can definitely sense Argharus has much more to offer in the years to come. [8 / 10]

 

Joey Edens, Rock My Monkey website [USA]:

This split release features 2 truly badass Lithuanian black metal acts: Luctus and Argharus. There's something about really cold freakin European contries that make for the best black metal out there. And perched next to Russia and Poland, you can garuntee these boys are freezin' their nuts off with grimness. I'll start with Luctus: this band really puts an old school thrash flavor into their 6 tracks. The band is more or less a black metal version of Nine Inch Nails: Luctus is the actual main man here, playing guitar, bass, and offering the vocals. Session musicians Sergejus (drums) and Justinas (bass) were employed during the recording of this e.p. If they only had just a tad better production, this shit could be godly. But alas, we'll have to settle for junior godly in this case.
Opening with the dark-minded intro to "World Of Blades", the cry of "Diiiiiiieeee, fuckers!!!!!!!!" brings us into the meat of this half thrash/half black metal track. Banging of ones head is imminent upon arrival, please set you trays in the upright position. "Filthy Blood, Guts, and Shit" reminds me of an old school Sepultura thrash sound.... birthed from a place 30 times colder than Brazil and from kids that could be Max Cavalera's.... um....kids. Double bass brings the hate home, so to speak, and this track just beats your ass. "Uz Lietuva!" starts off with a militant march drumbeat and into some of the greatest blackened death vocals this side of Behemoth, and more comprehensible at that. "No Future (For Your Future)" closes the deal for this bands portion of this release, and they even kick your ass going out the door with this armageddon laden track that declares a vile hatred for all who breathe. Fittingly, background sounds of war carry us into Argharus's efforts.
Argharus is a far more raspy vocal-styled band. This band is as raw as two elderlies going at it 'til midnight with no lube, people. I'm not as much a fan of the vocals with these guys as I was with Luctus. Musically, Furor and Pestiferos (both guitarists) really make a nice melodic vibe in the background. Auktuma (bass/vocals) can barely be heard bass-wise, although you can definitely tell it's there. You can hear those damned vocals though...." blurrrrgurrrrwurrrrrrcooooldcoldballsssssssss" All joking aside, I like the band for the most part, and even these vocals are far more tolerable compared to many other bands. Drummer Opacus will stick not one, but two bass pedals up your ass to get his point across. Great drummer, and he supports the band well.
My ONLY complaints here are that Argharus's vocals are a tad wookie and Argharus's song titles are all in Lithuanian.....and coincidentally I don't speak Lithuanian. Luctus's lyrics for 5 of their 6 tracks are in English, and it's awesome.... but for Argharis you'll just have to kick back (or stand up) and dig on the music itself. Other than this minor "flaw", I'd recommend this disc to every black metal fan out there!

 

K. Hutckins, Deadtide website [USA]:

Luctus lead off this split with Argharus, getting the first six songs of the disc. The opening is impossible to listen to without thinking of Voivod's War and Pain. It gets even better from there because this is speed crazed black metal with a lot of old school to it. I mean these guys are like the bastard children of Celtic Frost and Venom on methamphetamine. Is it new and innovative, not by a longshot but who cares. They have great raspy vocals, that are sometimes rather distorted just to add to the chaos. The production is pretty clean but with the distorted vocals if you have the volume up to a decent volume the album becomes a gigantic blur of noise. All of this noise also reminds me a bit of the last two Gorgoroth albums, both of which I rather enjoyed. It's a pretty short EP, which is a good thing as a full length by these guys might be too much for me to handle. My favorite part of all this speed is that it is done with a minimum of blasting. I always love fast but not quite blasting. There's just something about that speed that puts me in the mood for romance. If you like it fast and nasty then Luctus are what you have been searching for. Some bands are good for marching off to battle, these guys are made for a good old fashioned riot. Now, if you'll pardon me I have to hammer a few nails into a baseball bat, put this in the stereo and kick ass and chew bubblegum. Wait a second, I'm all out of bubblegum.
Argharus have a lot to live up as they get four songs to follow up the speed crazed lunacy that is Luctus. I would probably dig these guys a bit more if they didn't follow Luctus. This is not a bad album by any stretch but it doesn't quite have the energy I like from my records. The tempo is a lot more midpaced. The production is pretty clear, which hurts this album a bit. The material isn't fast enough to shake the shine off this so it seems a little overdone for black metal. The main problem with Argharus is that they don't stick out at all. The vocals are raspy, the tempo is in the middle, the production is decent. There is really nothing to this that you can't hear just about anywhere. The songs are also on the long side which makes the material seem more lethargic. Every now and then I get the feeling that they are a secondhand Mork Gryning, but that's about as excited as I can get about them.

 

Kramthal, Friedhof webmagazine [Spain]:

Las hordas de Lituania cada dia estan mas cerca, y dos de ellas llegan compartiendo debut (si no tenemos en cuenta demos) de manos del sello igualmente lituano Ledo Takas Records quien no ha tenido el mayor reparo a la hora de sacar una edicion totalmente de lujo visualmente muy atractiva.
El compacto comienza con Luctus, banda que, pese a contar con tres miembros, su unico lider y compositor es el joven Simonas alias "Luctus". Principalmente se desenvuelven entre un Black Metal agresivo, aunque las constantes aportaciones catalogadas dentro del Thrash Metal estaran mas que presentes. En cierta manera es un estilo bastante trillado, aunque se palpa magnificamente agresividad en casi todo el trabajo, englobado mas especificamente dentro de un Black Thrash marcial con samples de sirenas, marchas militares, metralletas y demas parafernalia militar. Podria decirse que son bastante melodicos y la primera influencia que pensariamos estaria dentro de la escuela Black sueca, al menos en el tipico rasgueo de cuerda escupiendo melodias. El sonido es bastante potente, quizas algo saturado, aunque la bateria, pese a ser humana (o al menos eso creo), posee un sonido bastante artificial y unos bombos algo estridentes que llegan a suturar toda la musica, algo que me hace pensar que podria tratarse de una bateria electrica o "triggeada".
Los cuatro restantes temas pertenecen al cuarteto Argharus quienes realizan una musica semejante a sus compatriotas solo que con mejor produccion -la bateria suena real y la tecnica no es para nada despreciable- y algunas otras diferencias sustanciales. La musica sigue siendo un Black Metal belicista y apocaliptico con una importante aportacion de melodias pero con unos ritmos mas variados y sin anadidos en tipo de samples. Aparte de todo esto tambien se palpan ciertas influencias dentro del Death Metal y una consecuente tecnica mas compleja y depurada -sin menospreciar a sus companeros Luctus-. Tampoco son una banda que innove demasiado y no se puede decir que hayan conseguido un sonido tipicamente “Baltico” pero si que ofrecen una musica agresiva y tecnica que los impulsa fuera de la mediocridad tan abundante dentro del genero.
Resumiendo un poco todo esto, cada una de las dos bandas posee unas influencias diferentes, aparte del principal y comun Black Metal; mientras que Luctus suenan a vieja escuela con sonido Thrash, Argharus, en contraposicion, se decantan por unos sonidos mas Death. Las dos bandas pueden dar de que hablar en el futuro. [7 / 10]

 

Lane, Archaic Metallurgy webzine [Finland]:

Ledo Takas Records present two young bands from Lithuanian black metal scene: Argharus and Luctus. The two are different in their sonic violence, yet they are both influenced by old school black metal. Let's take Luctus first, as they are the first band on this split album.
Luctus take extreme measures. The intro to 'World of Blades' portrays gearing up for war. And war is what Luctus serve: Very fast-paced thrashing black metal with intense, biting and metallic sound. At times they slow down to headbanging tempos, which are vital for the flow in the music, in my opinion. Luctus's riffs are aggressive, ripping, yet catchy, but nothing too original, and they also flirt with "pagan" melodies at times. But then again, what is original these days? Anyways, Luctus have found their own small niche. While sound is clear, it's partly too machinery, especially the drums. But if you look it from another way, the machiney sound fits for Luctus's cold-sounding hate. The lyrics (5 out of 6 songs in English) are about war, sometimes in a patriotic way, and hatred towards religions and religious. Their part ends with sounds of war. I think we'll hear more from Luctus in a short while, as the battle towards religions is still going on.
Argharus have more Nordic, especially Norwegian, tinge to their black metal. The sound is more organic and archaic than Luctus's, but hatred is on same level. Argharus perform in their native language, so I read from the letter which accompanied the album, that "they claim to de-emphasize the cult of life, to deny the canons of Western moral, and to represent the evil side of man". Argharus offer pacewise varying material, and definitely memorable riffs and compositions. But it is impossible to call Argharus original and this is what make Argharus a smaller band when compared to the greats. But they are a young band, and still they got more into them than a million and one other contenders do.
However, 'Sonitus Caeli Ardentis' serves its purposes well. It shall offer some great moments for a listener of black metal. While the bands' outlets are dissimilar, the package is still coherent enough. If you are looking for some new blood in black metal scene, then this is a good release for you to inspect. [6,5 / 10]

 

Lars Strutz, PowerMetal.de website [Germany]:

Black Metal und kalte Gegend, normalerweise heisst es dann Norwegen, oder Schweden, aber der Baltische Bereich bleibt leider frei von Lobpreisungen. Damit das nicht zu einem Dauerzustand bleibt, demonstriert die Split-CD von LUCTUS und ARGHARUS, was es denn neues aus Litauen gibt.
Das Highlight der CD ist dabei das Werk der Jungs von LUCTUS, die ihre Arbeit sogar in Italien aufnehmen liessen. Warmes Klima für kalten Black Metal? Egal was die Gründe für diese Ortswahl waren, das Ergebnis ist ein rasender Hammer mit präzisem Riffing, schneidenden Gesang und einer gehörigen Portion militärischem Zack. Sei es durch das kurze Saitengeschredder, dem Marschmusikartigen Getrommel oder dem bellenden, befehlsgewohnten Gesang, LUCTUS geben eine herrliche Marschrichtung vor, zu der man einfach salutieren möchte. Neben Brutalität spricht vor allem ein spitzen Songwriting für die Band, das zwar sehr abwechslungsreich ist, aber dennoch einfach genug, um schnell genug im Gehörgang zu verschwinden. Eine wahre Freude.
Labelkollegen ARGHARUS gehen es da schon etwas gemässigter an. Mit traditionellen Wurzeln und simplen Riffing wird hier Black Metal wie zu Grossmutters Zeiten zelebriert, soll heissen ein, zwei gelungene Riffs, düstere Produktion und klassischen Gekeif. Regierte bei LUCTUS noch der Knüppel, ist hier die Gitarre mit fast schon rockartiger Einfachheit am Werke. Dass das ganze mit einem doppelten Heimatbonus aufwartet, aufgenommen in Litauen und in der eigenen Sprache, macht es besonders für Leute interessant, die den entsprechenden Sprachstil in ihren CDs mögen.
Die Split-CD macht vor allem wegen der genialen LUCTUS Sinn, aber auch für Neugierige und solche, die immer gern zwei zum Preis von einem haben wollen, sollten hier zugreifen. Dadurch, dass sich beide Bands eben nicht haargenau gleichen, macht man hier mit Sicherheit einen guten Fang.
Anspieltipps LUCTUS: World Of Blades, Uz Lietuva
Anspieltipps ARGHARUS: Nusiramink pries Audra, Nieksas

 

Le Scribe, Metalland webzine [France]:

Le label Lithuanien Ledo Takas Records nous a toujours habitué a des albums de qualité de groupes Baltes de Black (essayez de le dire tres vite avec du chewing-gum dans la bouche), et encore une fois on peut dire que le contrat est rempli avec ce split CD de deux groupes: LUCTUS et ARGHARUS. Si le premier est plus porté sur le paganisme, ARGHARUS lorgne quant a lui du coté le plus obscur du Black, avec une musique nihiliste et misanthrope. Ce quatuor est donc plus destiné aux fans de pur Black, par son coté haineux et ultra violent. LUCTUS, ?uvre d'un seul homme, officie dans un genre assez proche et tout aussi intéressant d'apres moi. Ses morceaux sont ultra rapides, avec un chant tres haut et tres saturé, faisant la part belle aux phrases courtes et scandées. Bien qu'officiant dans des registres relativement différents, l'alchimie entre les deux groupes opere bien et on passe sans déplaisir d'un groupe a l'autre, en attendant de pouvoir écouter leurs albums respectifs...

 

Loki, Metal Impact webzine [France]:

La Lituanie est en passe de devenir une terre prometteuse en ce qui concerne les groupes de Metal extreme. On pense notamment a des groupes comme SKYFORGER, DISSIMULATION, LOITS ou URSKUMUG qui chacun dans leur style ne déméritent aucunement et ont produit des albums valables et intéressants. Sur ce split CD concocté par l’omnipotent label balte Ledo Takas Records (sorte de Season of Mist local), la nouvelle génération du Black Metal lituanien a travers les combos LUCTUS et ARGHARUS s’affirme et leve la tete fierement du haut des collines baltes. Deux des jeunes groupes les plus prometteurs du genre sont présent sur ce split pour nous faire partager leur Black a la fois ancré dans la tradition, la patrie, le nihilisme et le blaspheme. Un programme plutot complet attend l’auditeur sur cette galette riche en évenements.
Déclarons le bal ouvert avec LUCTUS, projet solo de Simonas initié en 2001. Entouré de musiciens de sessions, ces six titres ont été enregistrés au Lair Studio en Italie ou le créateur du projet solo a vécu la majeure partie de sa jeune vie. Sur place, il a tout de meme eu le temps de concocter et produire deux démos en 2002 et 2003 avant d’achever un MCD Ad Arma! en 2004.
Bercé par le Thrash et le Death traditionnel, ces influences se percoivent au travers de ces morceaux de Black aux réverbérations Thrash comme en témoigne les titres que sont les excellents «Filthy Blood, Guts & Shit», «Don’t Sign The Armistice» et son intro rageuse. Riffs old-school, véloces et accrocheurs, les paroles abordées par le leader touchent a la guerre (samples de mitrailleuses, marches militaires, sirenes, etc.), au patriotisme ou a l’extinction du paganisme, theme qui tient a c?ur a Simonas. Notons que les paroles sont braillées dans la langue de Shakespeare. Rythmiques sauvages, LUCTUS propose pour ainsi dire un Black/Thrash aux accents Punk aboutissant ainsi a six pistes énergiques et aux structures simplistes et efficientes. Une ambiance un peu raw et sale dans le grain des guitares nous pousse a comparer LUCTUS a des formations comme IMPALED NAZARENE ou CARPATHIAN FOREST. Si vous appréciez ces groupes, LUCTUS est un groupe suffisamment captivant qui vous ravira…
Pour ARGHARUS, l’autre formation lituanienne présente sur le Split CD, il s’agit la de son premier enregistrement. Ce quatuor lituanien existant depuis seulement trois ans, et au contraire de son confrere LUCTUS, administre un Black Metal misanthrope, nihiliste et catégoriquement blasphématoire. Les textes étant écrits en lituanien, la compréhension des paroles n’est que trop approximative! ARGHARUS arbore de suite ses convictions au travers de sa musique a savoir la négation des canons de la morale occidentale ou bien l’exaltation de la représentation de la face maléfique de l’Homme! C’est bien beau tout ca, mais la musique la dedans? Et bien, le moins que l’on puisse dire est que ARGHARUS dispose d’une véritable puissance de feu, une grosse armada sonore! Les Lituaniens ne font pas dans la dentelle et la production claire et précise finit le travail comme il se doit. Enregistré chez le voisin letton au Phoenix Studio, niveau sonorité, le quatuor n’a rien a envier a ses pairs. Les titres quant a eux dans le fond sont exécutés tambour battant, la maitrise technique de mise n’effrayant pas les aspirations des musiciens, on se dit que le groupe n’aura aucune difficulté a enregistrer son premier album vu la qualité des morceaux sur ce split CD comme «Pasauktas Delcios», la déterminé et violente «Zvaigzdes Aukstybej Uzges» ou la Thrashy «Nieksas». Bien que parfait d’un point de vue d’exécution et d’écriture, on ne ressent pas vraiment leur message de nihilisme ou de blaspheme, la faute peut-etre a des compositions trop propres et pas assez osées dans l’extreme négatif.
Nonobstant, il n’en demeure pas moins que la Lituanie compte effectivement avec ARGHARUS et LUCTUS deux formations encourageantes et promises a un bel avenir… [4 / 5]

 

Mac, The Metal Observer website [Canada]:

Sit down, strap yourself in, press play, get blown away.
This is a split in more ways than one, apart from the obvious, there is the cleaving of the skull that widens the gap between your ears when this disk is let loose, Phantasm-like, to wreak havoc. Both of these groups unleash audio terror upon the listener, it's an unrelenting barrage of Black that will have you dribbling with delight.
LUCTUS slip the leash first and waste no time in sinking fang into flesh, Hell-bound and rapid, their tracks race off leaving a whiff of Death and Thrash lingering in their trail. Full of gallop and blast, the song titles speak for themselves, distinctly war-like, they hold the same allure that tanks and machine guns do to young children. Despite the global nature of this sub-genre, there is a Baltic identity to LUCTUS, thanks of course to the ethnic engraving of the picked lead.
You'll spend much of your time keeping your head below the tracer fire whilst listening to the half dozen denizens of death that this chap barrels out, it's straight between the eyes viciousness but the Thrash influences turn proceedings into a cavalry charge with its attendant adrenaline rush rather than indulging in any fogged grimness. The salvoes of guitar show a clear trajectory, a good eye will see them coming but for most of us, we'll be smithereened before the impact registers. The production prevents any censorship, you will witness the carnage at close hand, it won't be a pretty sight but it will be compelling.
The directness of approach from all the instruments demonstrates a heads on strategy, there are no foils and no pincer movements, the weak fell by the wayside yonks ago, this is a regiment of the battle hardened. It's no good waving a white flag, LUCTUS takes no prisoners.
ARGHARUS may be playing the same game but their plan is more convoluted, they have the fire-power but they also have a psychological warfare division. Rather than all out aggression and constant cannonade, this lot know how to use feints and decoys, there's a bullet with your name on but you don't know when it's coming. This is a purer Black, there is little to no influence from outside, they have their own motif within the sound, a sonic wave that washes over you bringing to mind a temporal shift.
ARGHARUS have acid in their veins and it shows in their music, there's an aspect to the guitar that gives a caustic edge to the surge and that eats at the riffs when they slow enough to allow it to etch. Again the production is strong, definition between the instruments means that the bass rumbles solidly along for all to hear and the drums on this half are more restrained than the pounding provided by LUCTUS. It's clear that ARGHARUS have a more corruptive effect than their compatriot, there is a degree of plotting that ensures that though they aren't as brutal, they are just as effective. Much of their leadwork evokes a primitive evil and the whole ambience of their contribution suggests something of the sinister.
Compositionally, there are changes in dynamics and weight that keep you listening to ARGHARUS, they have a sweep to their sound that lifts you off your feet and widens your panorama. There is a certain seductiveness at play here like the attraction of knives.
Both these bands are more than worth lending your ear to though you might get it back in tatters. Forget your history lessons, when it comes to black gold, go East young man. [8 / 10]

 

Marcin "Astus" Olczak, Panzerfaust zine / The Nocturnal Battle of Chariots webmagazine [Poland]:

LEDO TAKAS – jedna z moich ulubionych wytworni (polecam ich distro!!!) atakuje kolejnym wydawnictwem i jest to limitowany do 1313 sztuk split zupelnie nieznanych mi LUCTUS oraz ARGHARUS. LUCTUS rozpoczyna z tzw. "grubej rury", dowalajac siarczystym i dzikim black metalem... Ha, zdziwilem sie nieco, iz brzmi to bardziej jak szwedzkie kapele, niz np. DISSIMULATION, czy LOITS. Ha, rzeczywiscie mozna znalezc w otwierajacym split “World of Blades” wplywy DISSECTION, czy DARK FUNERAL, nie mozna jednak zarzucic LUCTUS kopiowania! Zwlaszcza, iz juz w kolejnym numerze pojawiaja sie nieco inne patenty, czesto grane w srednio szybkich tempach, nieco melodyjne, nawet o stosunkowo zawilych konstrukcjach… Oczywiscie bardzo czesto LUCTUS przeplata kolejne riffy hiper szybkimi walnieciami w pysk, ktorych chyba jedyna wada jest to, iz uwypuklaja wykorzystanie automatu perkusyjnego. Niemniej, ciekawie brzmi muzyka LUCTUS – nie jest ona jednowymiarowa, czesto serwuje urozmaicone smaczki, ograniczajac sie przy tym do wykorzystania tradycyjnego instrumentarium rockowego (a to tylko swiadczy o tym, jak bogato zaaranzowane sa tu partie gitar). Wystarczy zreszta posluchac takiego "Uz Lietuva!" – w tym numerze jest wszystko: chwytliwe, wolniejsze riffy, melodia i blasty. Dla mnie to wystarczy, słucha mi sie bardzo dobrze, nawet jesli furory to nie robi, to musze podkreslic, iz jest to mocny i solidny band, ktorego nie mozna lekce-sobie-wazyc! O, wlasnie leci "Don’t Sign the Armistice" – kolejny swietny numer, a nastepujacy po nim "Age of Decadence" robi taki rozpierdol, ze glowa boli! Cool!!!!
Ale przejdzmy juz do ARGHARUS. I ten band bardzo mi sie podoba, moze nawet nieco bardziej od LUCTUS? Wydaje mi sie, iz muzyka tego projektu jest nieco prostsza, a przez to bardziej bezposrednia. Struktury utworow nie sa juz tak zawile, ale nadal osadzone w szybkich, black metalowych tempach. Muzyka ARGHARUS jest bardziej tradycyjna, choc z pewnoscia nie mozna jej zarzucic prymitywizmu, bo ci kolesie potrafia grac i to dobrze! Szybko, bluznierczo, ale z glowa – tak bym opisal ich granie. Bo mimo, iz opieraja sie na klasycznym graniu, nie sila na techniczne, death’owe wstawki, to jednak staraja sie kombinowac, moze troche jak SECRETS OF THE MOON, aby ich muzyka nie byla monotonna, a caly czas, nawet w obrebie jednego riffu cos sie w niej dzialo. I to dziala, bo nie ma nic lepszego, jak dobrze zagrany i przemyslany black metal, a ten w wykonaniu ARGHARUS jest wlasciwie bez zarzutu. [7 / 10]

[translation]
I appreciate the fact that LEDO TAKAS – one of my favourite labels (check their distro!) – doesn’t surrender and attacks with another cool release. This CD is limited to 1313 copies only, so be hurry, because it’s worth of getting, even though I didn’t know any of these two bands before. LUCTUS opens this split with a fuckin’ blast of uncompromising black metal. Hey, I’m surprised they don’t sound like DISSIMULATION, LOITS or any other band from their country. The opener “World of Blades” actually sounds more like DISSECTION and DARK FUNERAL, but without ripping their corpses off. Anyway, next track already shows some different elements, usually played in mid paced tempos, often melodic and even quite technical in its construction. Of course LUCTUS loves to shred with often fast blasts, whose only fault is I guess a monotonous drum machine’s play. And surely this music does sound great – it’s not boring, often gives some extra and killer tunes. Just listen to such “Uz Lietuva!” – this track has got everything you want: catchy, slower riffs and melody, also some blasting crushers... To me it all’s enough for good listening, so even if this band won’t get a reward for album of the year, it’s still worthy and great to listen to, sure recommended to everyone. Oh, “Don’t Sign the Armistice” just started and it’s another cool track! The one to follow, “Age of Decadence”, makes such a slaughter that I’m happier than ever! So, yeah, LUCTUS is great! But what about ARGHARUS? Yeah, I like them as well, maybe even more than LUCTUS? I think music of this band is little bit simplier, more straight forward, if you know what I mean. It’s just not so complicated, but also based on fast black metal tempos mostly. This music is also more traditional in its genre, I guess, but don’t expect primitivism or crap! These guys play instruments more than well! And so, it’s fast, blasphemous, but thought through! I think that even if ARGHARUS doesn’t make their riffs too complex, their songs are built on several great accords and they follow each other smoothly, maybe a little bit in a style of fantastic SECRETS OF THE MOON… So, it makes the music varied, not monotonous and every time here and there something happens. And that’s great, simple, but complex, you know? Very good, solid black metal, nothing really to complain about ARGHARUS. Yeah, this is totally recommended split CD. Get it! [7 / 10]

 

Mark Desgagne, Metal Universe website [Canada]:

En mars 2007, la compagnie Ledo Takas Records nous offre deux groupes originaires de son coin de pays, la Lithuanie. Sur ce EP divisé, "Sonitus Caeli Ardentis", nous avons les formations de black metal Luctus et Argharus. Ledo Takas, spécialisé dans le metal extreme, m'avait surpris avec d'excellentes sorties dans le passé. J'étais donc tres curieux d'entendre ce que nous allons nous mettre sous les oreilles. Les deux groupes chantent en Anglais et Lithuanien, surtout Argharus.
Le premier groupe que nous pouvons entendre est Luctus avec six pieces black metal. Sans entrer dans une catégorie symphonique ou totalement mélodique, Luctus montre rapidement sa sonorité avec une agressivité visible, mais qui est agrémentée d'un élément mélodique accrocheur. Cependant, nous sommes loin du sens propre du terme mélodique, puisque la violence sur une piece comme "Age of Decadence" se rapproche beaucoup plus du son black metal extreme original. Ce sont les guitares qui apportent vraiment une diversité supérieure dans leur structure musicale. Sans leur apport, l'énergie serait tres différente et attirerait moins notre attention. Toutefois, mon coup de coeur de la part de Luctus vient avec la piece "Uz Lietuva!". J'adore le mélange d'intensité et le jeu des vocaux qui sont travaillés pour donner certains effets particuliers. Point négatif, un certain son provenant de la batterie vient me tomber sur les nerfs a quelques occasions.
Pour la seconde partie, le groupe Argharus tentait de se démarquer avec quatre pieces, et non six comme leur collegue. "Nusiramink pries Audra" débute de facon tres brutale avec un vocal mélangeant death/black et une sonorité typiquement black metal, mais qui comporte également des parties mélodiques. Le rythme variable, offrant par moment des élans plus lents mettant l'accent sur les guitares et l'atmosphere, avant de retrouver une fougue rapide et puissante digne du vieux black metal. En fait, la piece "Pasauktas Delcios" me donne l'impression que le groupe a une approche plus "thash black metal", qui est ramenée a plusieurs autres endroits spécifiques sur les autres morceaux.
Bref, ce EP, "Sonitus Caeli Ardentis", pourrait etre fort intéressant pour ceux qui désireraient vraiment découvrir a quoi ressemble le black metal de la Lithuanie. Les éléments sont bien incorporés et le tout donne sans aucun doute un deuxieme souffle a leur musique. Luctus et Argharus vont tous les deux chercher un black metal plus vieux tout en y incluant une touche moderne, et souvent personnelle avec la langue que les deux groupes utilisent, le Lithuanien. Avec cette langue, l'originalité est augmentée, évident. Un bon petit album agréable a écouter! [8 / 10]

 

Marko, Overhook Music website [Finland]:

Two young Lithuanian bands follow the traditional Baltic extreme metal heritage with their offerings. The fact seems to be, that there really haven't been too much of prospects to find, so this split release comes to fill the hole and the crowd gets pleased.
Luctus has conquered the first half. They really leave no prisoners alive with their furious high-speed assault, which builds on thrashy guitar riffs and pagan spirit. Some bit more rock oriented riffs create some variability, but the weight is on the more vicious side. The sound is a bit unpolished and rough, which suits the mood really well. The last song fades out while machine guns sing a lullabye.
Argharus on the other hand has concentrated on a more mid-tempo assault, which isn't as vicious and aggressive, but pretty effective in its own way. Also, they have decided to stick to their native language instead of trying to please the world by changing into English. At first, the slower tempo might sound too slow, but when listened on its own, it's a different situation. The songs are bit more complicated, but sometimes the vocals seem to be mixed too far back.
All in all, both bands seem to have found their own calling and there's not much to complain about the performance of the two. Although neither one is able to show anything amazing, the package is very much listenable and both succeed pretty well. Maybe someday these two will be one of the biggest names in Baltic metal scene, but that time is not now, not just yet. [3,5 / 5]

 

Michel Renaud, Metal Crypt webzine [Canada]:

I'm always a bit wary of split CDs because you often get mismatched bands and/or some sub-par material thrown in just for the sake of releasing something. Such is not the case with this split from Lithuania's Luctus and Argharus (the band's first release.) Not only are the bands similar enough in style so that one is not shocked when the track list hits the next band, but the songs here are all good (and then some.) Both bands play Black Metal that at times sounds like a mix of early 90s Scandinavian BM and late 90s/early 2000s more "blasting" BM, all this with a hint of more old school, thrashier BM. So you get a bit of everything. Luctus' material is arguably less accessible, showcasing the most violent and fastest songs, while Argharus tone things down a little with a slightly more melodic sound that nevertheless maintains a very raw edge, and with more guttural, less "out of this world" vocals. Argharus stick to their native tongue, while all but one of Luctus' songs are in English - not that one could really tell just from casual listening, mind you.
Overall a good split, and I can't really say I liked one band's material above the other - the album flows pretty nicely with no bad surprises. Just one of those CDs you can set on repeat and not feel the urge to change even after a few hours (or is it me being too lazy to get up and change the CD? :)) I believe this is limited to 1313 copies, but I don't recall running into it at any of my regular distros, so there might still be some copies on the market.

 

Mordant, Minacious webzine [Sweden]:

Are you ready for some Black Metal hatred? This disc contains two furious Black Metal acts from Lithuania. First out is Luctus who is basically a one man band with session members, the band awakened in 2001 and have released two demos, one EP and two full-lengths thus far. This is their latest release. Luctus plays a very aggressive form of Black Metal based on pure violence, a sonic assault on the listeners. It feels a bit Swedish to me, but there are also some Thrash Metal (and even Death Metal) influences in the music, which is always enjoyable. Really brutal music. The other band on this split is Argharus, they have been around since 2004 but this is the first anyone have heard from them (except for a few live performances) because this is as far as I know their only release. The music is quite different from that of Luctus, not as violent and brutal but just as fierce and hate filled. The music feels a bit more technical with a lot of tempo-changes and different riffs, also they are borderline melodic at times, but the music is still fucking harsh. The thought behind Argharus seems to be to build up a dark atmosphere which I must say that they have succeeded with. I don't have a favourite band, it all depends on my mood, since the two bands are so different. A interesting split, perfect for those who want to discover two new bands.

 

Nikola Shahpazov, Chronicles Of Chaos website [USA]:

Lithuanian black metal newbies Luctus and Argharus sound fierce and misanthropic, therefore unmistakably underground. Although their approach to music differs little from the genre-defining Norwegian godfathers, Sonitus Caeli Ardentis has one major advantage: the admirably high quality of production ensures the otherwise overtly aggressive tracks don't sound like muddled noise from somewhere underneath this wretched earth.
First on the split storms one-man project Luctus; a straightforward, militaristic black / thrash hybrid, relying mainly on speed and sheer force. The slower sections reveal some heavy metal influences, while the lyrics and logo suggest more than just sympathy for Lithuanian nationalism. The six Luctus tracks are fairly interesting, compensating with intensity where there is a lack of good ideas.
Argharus' contribution consists of four tracks of definite old-school aesthetics, which might either be referred to as "deep ritualistic intensity" or simply as "Mayhem / Darkthrone worship". The sound is still great, though the approach is rather necro, truly in the darkest Norwegian tradition. Variation is limited to the absolute minimum, while repetitive guitar riffs form the main part of the songs. Not bad for a debut, but still far from impressive.
Sonitus Caeli Ardentis is a statement of purpose, if not a proof of greatness. It is up to Luctus and Argharus to better themselves by adding more musical diversity to the aggression and speed they obviously master quite well. [6,5 / 10]

 

Odium, Ferrum website [Lithuania]:

Turbūt mažai kas nesutiks su teiginiu, jog naujausias „Ledo Takas Records“ leidinys, kaip ir skelbiama pristatyme, supažindina su šiuo metu dviem daugiausiai žadančiais savo krašto kolektyvais, grojančiais black metalą. Nors lietuvaičiams tai jau pakankamai žinomi projektai, bet užsieniečiui ši pažintis gali pasirodyti gan netikėta.
LUCTUS – tai Simono karinio juodmetalio projektas. Tiesa, gyviems pasirodymams, pasitelkus sesijinių muzikantų pagalbą, surenkama visa grupės sudėtis. Asmeniškai man LUCTUS geriausia žinomas iš 2004 metų albumo „Ad Arma“. Tuo tarpu šiam splitui pateikiami kūriniai, įrašyti 2006 metais „The Lair“ studijoje Italijoje, kur šiuo metu ir apsistojęs grupės lyderis.
Šiauliečiams ARGHARUS „Sonitus Caeli Ardentis“ tampa debiutiniu leidiniu. Sukėlę audringų ir pozityvių reakcijų bangą po pasirodymų festivaliuose „Tvaikas“, „Kilkim Žaibu“ ir kitur, muzikantai pagaliau pateikia savo kūrinius, įamžintus kompaktiniame diske.
Ir vis tik, ar tai tikrai yra leidinys, pristatantis tai, ką šiuo metu turim geriausia šioje srityje? Turiu sutikti, jog taip – tai dvi grupės, kurias negėda parodyti žmogui, nesusidūrusiam su lietuviška scena. Kita vertus, savam kieme viskas matosi geriau, todėl nori nenori imi lyginti, analizuoti, stebėti. Tarkim, kad ir LUCTUS naujosios dainos. Po „Ad Armos“ užkelta kartelė šį kartą peršokta nebuvo. Akivaizdu, jog muzika progresuoja technine prasme. Skambesys pakitęs labiau į thrash/black pusę. Dainos labiau orientuotos į greitį, agresiją, šleikštulį, kai tuo tarpu paskutiniajame albume daugiau dėmesio buvo skirta bendrai atmosferai. Būtent to aš tikėjausi ir šį kartą, bet progreso negalime laikyti neigiamu dalyku. Tiesa, vietomis persistengta su vokalu – balsas skamba negyvai, netikrai, lyg kokio roboto. Kai kur persistengta ir su gitarų partijomis – atrodo, jog jų partijos nedera viena prie kitos, tai iššaukia disharmoniją. Bet tai tik keli eilinio klausytojo pastebėjimai. Tuo labiau, kad tokie kūriniai, kaip „Už Lietuvą!“ ar „Age of Decadence“, puikiai patenkina ir mano norus bei lūkesčius.
Antrąją bendro albumo dalį sudaro keturi ARGHARUS kūriniai, įrašyti praėjusiais metais Rygoje, žymiausioje Pabaltijo „Phoenix“ studijoje. Akivaizdu, jog prisistatymui pasirinktas kokybiškas ir tinkamas variantas. Vis tik, tenka pastebėti, jog gyvai ši grupė skamba kur kas įdomiau, nei šiame įraše. Visų pirma, užkliuvo viena į kitą per daug panašios dainos. Ypač tas pasakytina apie kūrinių struktūrą – lengvai gali nuspėti, kur užgros viena, kur kita gitara, kada įstos vokalas ar bus padaryta maža pauzė. Skandinaviškais kanonais paremtoje muzikoje susipina nihilizmas, tamsa ir neapykanta. Pati muzika kupina dramatizmo, baugumo ir šiuo atžvilgiu (kaip ir skambesiu) primena olandus CIRITH GORGOR. Kad jaunuoliai grot moka, turbūt ne paslaptis – ne be reikalo tiek laiko repetuota. Bet asmeniškai aš, nors ir laikydamas šį įrašą tikrai profesionaliu, likau šiek tiek nusivylęs. Nors ir iki pilnos laimės trūksta nedaug.
Galutinį vertinimą sunku pateikti vienareikšmiškai. Man itin džiugu, jog lietuviškas grupes leidžia ir vietinė kompanija – patriarchai „Ledo Takas Records“. Leidinys profesionalus, išsamus, kokybiškas. Jo turinys – stiprus, agresyvus, tamsus. Ne per daug originalus, bet užvedantis ir įdomus, techniškas ir svarbiausia – savas. Tikiu, jog tai bus gera paspirtis tolimesnei šių grupių veiklai bei kūrybai. [7 / 10]

 

Ray, Heavyhardes website [Germany]:

Das litauische Label Ledo Takas informiert uns mit dieser Split CD über den dort ansässigen Black Metal Underground. Die Wahl hierfür fiel auf Luctus und Argharus, die beide als hoffnungsvolle Nachwuchsbands gehandelt werden, so die Labelinfo.
Den Beginn macht Luctus mit insgesamt sechs Songs. Hier jedoch von einer Band zu sprechen, wäre etwas an der Realität vorbei. Vielmehr handelt es sich hierbei um ein Ein-Mann-Projekt, das sich für Live-Gigs und für das Studio Sessionmusiker an Bord holt. Luctus, der einen Großteil seines Lebens in Italien verbrachte, zelebriert hier seine Version des Black Metals. Wobei hier eher die hyperschnelle Version geboten wird. Kalt, schnell und emotionslos, man kann es auch schon klinisch nennen. Die Produktion ist diesen Attributen angepasst worden und entsprechend drucklos geraten. Wobei der Eindruck durch den Drumsound noch verstärkt wird. Schnelles Geballer, das kaum den Fuß vom Gaspedal nimmt, lediglich kurze und vereinzelte groovende Parts sind zu vernehmen. Ansonsten klingen die Drums eher wie aus der Konserve als real eingespielt, wenn da mal nicht ein Herr Sasso hinter den Reglern gesessen hat (auch wenn ein Musiker A. für die Drums im Bootleg aufgeführt wurde). Auch die Vocals schreien ständig verzerrt klinisch. Sehr industriell geratener Black Metal also, der nicht wirklich überzeugen kann.
Ganz anders dagegen deren Landsleute Argharus, die deutlich vom Tempo gemäßigter zu Werke gehen. Die Produktion ist hier um einiges druckvoller geraten, was man sofort nach den ersten Takten vernehmen kann. Die vier Songs klingen deutlich organischer als vorher noch Luctus. Ein Freund großer Worte sind Argharus jedoch nicht, jeder der Songs begnügt sich mit wenigen Textzeilen, die auch im Bootleg abgedruckt sind. Da hier jedoch in der litauischen Landessprache gesungen wird, hilft einem das auch nicht wirklich weiter. Doch zurück zur Musik. Die Songs sind variabel aufgebaut, mehrere Tempowechsel innerhalb der Songs und Auktuma (Vocals, Bass) keift sich dazu die Stimmbänder wund. Hier haben wir es mit rohem, vom Norden her bekanntem Black Metal zu tun, der abwechslungsreich gestaltet ist. Auch vor längeren Midtempoparts machen Argharus nicht halt und haben somit auf dieser Split-CD deutlich das schwarze Näschen vorn.

 

RC, Rock Underground website [Brazil]:

Com tantos formatos hoje, ainda mais com o maldito download, acho meio defenestrante lancar CDs em formato split, pois, ou se quer atrair o consumidor, ou espanta-lo de vez. Mas para estas bandas iniciantes, querendo lugar ao sol, para ter mais um titulo em sua discografia, entao, da pra se entender melhor. Aqui temos duas bandas do Black Metal letao, o Luctus e o Argharus. A capa e tosca e simples, mas legal e segundo a gravadora, sao duas das melhores bandas de la. O Luctus tem mais experiencia, ja lancou duas demos e um MCD desde 2002, enquanto o Argharus debuta neste split. Ambos vem com um som misantropico, feroz e, por conseguinte, inequivocamente subterraneo. Embora a sua abordagem a musica difere pouco do genero que define o Black Metal noruegues e seus godfathers. A admiravel alta qualidade da producao garante um som demasiado agressivo, nao soa como trilhas-sonoras de confusos desventurados algures por debaixo desta Terra. Primeiro sobre o desdobramento tempestades um one-man-project Luctus; um simples, militarista Black Thrash num perfeito hibrido, baseando-se principalmente na grande velocidade e forca. As secoes mais lentas revelam algumas influencias Heavy Metal, ao mesmo tempo que as letras e logo sugiram mais do que apenas simpatia por lituano nacionalismo.
Argharus consiste em quatro faixas de concreto Old School Black Metal, designado de “profunda ritualistica intensidade" ou simplesmente como um culto ao Mayhem e Darkthrone. O som ainda e grande, apesar de a abordagem e bastante necro, verdadeiramente, na mais negra tradicao norueguesa. Variacao e limitada ao minimo absoluto, ao mesmo tempo repetitivas guitarras com seus riffs difusos. [7 / 10]

 

Robert Legowik, Psycho webzine [Poland]:

Wiem, wiem, wiem.... Roznie sie ludzie zapatruja na roznego rodzaju splity. Jedni uwielbiaja takie wydawnictwa, inni nie widza w nich sensu... coz, oczywiscie szanujemy ich zdanie hehehe. Ja uwielbiam takie materialy i nie bede pieprzyl farmazonow dlaczego. Ot, po prostu wole dobry split w reku niz np. jakis skladak. Ale to tylko moja prywatna opinia i nikt z nia zgadzac sie nie musi. Nie bede plakal z tego powodu.
I wlasnie tu i teraz przedstawie wam najnowszy split wydany przez litewska wytwornie Ledo Takas Records "Sonitus Caeli Ardentis", gdzie dwa mlode zespoly zza miedzy LUCTUS i ARGHARUS maja okazje sie przedstawic szerszemu gronu sluchaczy. Na pierwszy ogien poszedl projekt LUCTUS. Moze projekt a moze zespol. Sam juz nie wiem. W kazdym badz razie jest to jak na razie mi wiadomo, jednoosobowy twor kolesia ukrywajacego sie pod pseudonimem Luctus, majacy kilku sesyjnych i koncertowych osob (glownie Wlochow) wspomagajacych zespol, ale calosc opiera sie tylko i wylacznie na tej jednej osobie. Dobra, zreszta, to nie jest tutaj takie wazne. Najwazniejsza jak zawsze jest muzyka. A tutaj LUCTUS przedstawia sie naprawde obiecujaco. Agresywny, cierpki a przy tym nie pozbawiony nutki melodyjnosci i takiej "miety", po ktorej juz po pierwszym przesluchaniu material musi sie podobac. I chociaz sam zespol/projekt okresla swoja muzyke jako black metal, to ja dodam od siebie, ze mozna w tej muzyce odnalezc duzo z death i thrash metalu, glownie dzieki pojedynczym riffom gitarowym, ktore co jakis czas sa nam tutaj serwowane, jako urozmaicenia w calej tej blackowej gonitwie. Na pierwszy plan wysuwaja sie tutaj numery "Filthy Blood, Guts and Shit" i "Don't Sign the Armistice" i calkowicie nie przeszkadza mi to, ze czasami zbyt mocno slychac w nich echa Marduka. Po prostu, czuc w tej muzyce odpowiednie wibracje i moce przerobowe. Mnie tym materialem kupili, dlatego od teraz z wieksza uwaga bede sie przygladal kolejnym plytom z logiem LUCTUS. Dali rade!!
Drugi na liscie do golenia jest ARGHARUS, dla ktorych ten split jest takim prawdziwym wydawniczym debiutem. Od razu co rzucilo sie na moje "gluche" ucho, to fakt, ze zespol nie ma juz tak niszczacego i diabelskiego soundu jak sasiedzi z krazka. Ba, nawet sama muzyka ARGHARUS nie wysadza z kapci tak jak zrobil to LUCTUS. Oczywiscie, nie panikujmy, Litwini nie sieja nam zadnej skrajnej popeliny, tylko, ze wizja black metalu przedstawiona przez ten zespol nieco gorzej trafia w moje gusta. Jesli LUCTUS moglbym przez pol dnia sluchac non stop i by sie ta muzyka nie przejadla, tak po takiej dawce ARGHARUS-a moglbym puscic juz sredniej wielkosci pawia. Ale to jest dopiero debiut i nie wymagajmy od razu po chlopakach nie wiadomo czego. Ogolnie wstydu sobie nie przyniesli, wiec czego ja sie kurwa czepiam? Ogolnie bardzo przyjemny split, ciekawe (jeden bardziej, drugi troszke mniej) dwa zespoly grajace black metal, jednak majace rozne wizje odnosnie tej muzyki i w dodatku bardzo fajnie wydany krazek CD. Wiec czego chciec wiecej?? Rozejrzyjcie sie za tym materialem, chociazby dla samego LUCTUS-a, chociaz i ARGHARUS tez niejednemu przypadnie do gustu. [4 / 5]

 

Rover, Froster Online website [Ukraine]:

By the name of "Sonitus Caeli Ardentis" is lurking a split album, consisting of two Lithuanian black metal bands – Luctus and Argharus. Many internet resources name those two teams as the most promising Lithuanian black metal formations, what I can fully agree with. Black metal presented on "Sonitus Caeli Ardentis" is of the highest quality, whereas both bands differ quite much one from another. Let’s start with a fact that Luctus have a dirtier sound [what is not a minus anywise in this particular style], whilst Argharus have a cleaner production. Then the first band has a more appealing screaming style, whilst the second one bows down just a little bit by this part. Summing up, musicians of both bands play the music that is more or less close to true black metal, yet the melodicity is not extraneous for them. Despite the aggressiveness of compositions, vocal parts are granted with strong melodiousness, and guitar parts please the ears with hooky riffs and leads. All this perfection raises the comparisons with Dark Funeral, though Luctus and Argharus are not as rough and brutal. I’d add a plus also for a perfect booklet with lyrics, and the quantity of compositions themselves on the split – practically two albums in one! All in all, among the tons of average works as in the black metal genre as much in other extreme styles – this split looks very solid and certain. [7 / 10]

 

Séb, Heavy Metal Universe webzine [France]:

This new offering from the Vilnius-based excellent label Ledo Takas Records is one of the most extreme record I had to hear from them. Indeed, this split cd gathers two extreme bands, playing raw and uncompromised black metal assaults. The release consists in 10 tracks, the first six by LUCTUS and the four others by ARGHARUS, both young Lithuanian acts. The two bands are quite similar in their way to play some blasphemous and kicking black metal, the main difference being the fact that ARGHARUS' lyrics are always in their native tongue where LUCTUS mostly sings in English. Otherwise, the music is quite traditional and not very original true black stuff, but always well done, with fast rhythms and convinced blasphemy, so that the black hordes from all over the world should find something to slake their thirst. [4 / 6]

 

Sigurd, Highlands webzine [Chile]:

Tadas (dueno de Ledo Takas Records) nos acaba de enviar este split CD de sus dos mas nuevos amigos, las bandas lituanas Luctus y Argharus.
El primer participante de este disco es Luctus, (Luctus en guitarras, bajo y voces, Sergejus en bateria y Justinas en bajo de sesion) un proyecto formado en 2001 y que luego de dos demos y un mini CD firman por la disquera de nuestro amigo Tadas para presentarnos 6 cortes de un interesante y patriotico black/thrash metal muy en la vena de bandas como Aura Noir y con esos aires que Kreator instauro en sus comienzos.
Si bien estos elementos en algun momento de los anos 90's fueron sobre explotados por muchas bandas Noruegas y Europeas, actualmente es un sonido que sin dejar de ser es muy grato de oir en agrupaciones que saben retomarlo y re encausarlo como es el caso de Luctus.
Argharus por su parte es una cuarteto formado por Auktuma en bajo y voces, Furor en guitarras, Pestiferos en guitarra y Opacus en bateria. Nacidos a finales de 2004 como banda nos presentan cuatro cortes de un interesante Black Metal que me recordo indudablemente a Dissection o Dawn pero sin llegar al nivel de estas dos destacadisimas bandas de la escena sueca.
Mucha rapidez, melodias frias y agresivas que sin duda seran del deleite de los seguidores de este estilo de metal extremo.
Graficamente este split CD se luce totalmente con un hermoso booklet plagado de imagenes de naturaleza y de desolacion insertas en ese mismo entorno. Sonicamente la produccion esta al nivel del material de “Ledo Takas”, es decir, excelencia en todos los aspectos.
Espero a futuro poder saber nuevas cosas sobre estas dos bandas pero en producciones independientes y personales ya que si bien este split CD demuestra la calidad de ambos grupos, es en los discos en donde se ven las cartas a ser jugadas.
Buenas ideas, buen sonido, ahora solo resta esperar. [5,7 / 7]

 

Sokaris, Heathen Harvest website [USA]:

The rising Lithuanian black metal scene spits forth this split release between one-man project Luctus and newcomers Argharus. The split represents a culmination between two very impressive acts. The entire project is presented in a very professional manner and I would highly recommend this split to anyone looking for quality modern black metal and interested in this country’s scene.
Delving into the songs, the first half belongs to Luctus. A short atmospheric piece begins “World of Blades” setting the stage in a very dark and apocalyptic way. Metallic marching snares and background swells give way to a crackling scream that commands the guitars forth. The drums have a slight mechanical thump to them that adds an interesting counterpoint to the organic tone of the guitars. The vocals are distorted and, combined with the drums give a very slight industrial touch to the feeling of the record. Luctus’ sound is much more headbangable than your average black metal excursion, a raucous mix of Carpathian Forest, Celtic Frost, Sarcofago, mid-period Impaled Nazarene and maybe just a touch of Mysticum. Plenty of dynamics and tempo changes keep the first half of “Sonitus Caeli Ardentis” exciting. “Filthy Blood, Guts and Shit” certainly lives up to its name with its dirty groove opening riff that dives straight into pre-Agent Orange Sodom inspired goodness. The song keeps upping the intensity by throwing manic passages at the listener until the composition comes full circle back into the opener. From there we’re treated to a ending slew of riffs fit for vicious windmilling.
Track three features Luctus singing in his native tongue with enough scorn and hatred to rip down any language barriers. If the ridiculously nasty groove section (complete with an “ooooh!” that even Tom G. Warrior would be impressed with) of the song doesn’t make you want to break something you should check your pulse. With sampled marching and a palm-muted riff we begin “Don’t Sign the Armistice.” A siren and gunfire are the precursor to a series of tremolo riffs seemingly plucked from Sweden’s contributions to the genre, each coated in Luctus’ remarkable style. “Age of Decadence” is slightly darker sounding but still keeps the momentum plunging onward. One thing this release never fails to be is exciting. As the song rings out and a short bit of ambience precedes the final track of Luctus’ half of “Sonitus Caeli Ardentis” Luctus is damn good at doing thrashy as hell black metal but after a few listens one realizes just how methodical and well put together the music is. “No Future (For Your Future)” fuses together the belligerent maniacal thrashing aspect of the band and the barbed wire wrapped tremolo sections. Mainman Luctus purges himself of an arsenal of hatred for the majority of the song but then throws us a curveball to end his composition. A sad piano sound and clean guitar piercing through a cacophony of gunshots and ripping static noises. A commendable exercise in modern black metal.
Luctus is a tough act to follow, but the rest of the split remains solid. The Argharus half of the split is slightly more orthodox black metal. Although I’ll likely return to Luctus contribution more, the debut offering from this four piece is definitely impressive. The guitar sound is a crisper from here on out, highlighting an impeccable studio performance. The melodies and rhythm of the riffage never gets lost underneath the blasting and the bass stays audible throughout. You can still expect plenty of dynamics on this half of the release. Argharus tends to play a style that’s a bit darker and colder sounding but like Luctus they’re a band that’s able to incorporate old-school elements. It’s nice to occasionally hear something extremely heavy as well as evil in the context of modern black metal. Longer song structures and lyrics performed exclusively in Lithuanian add to the band’s obscure sound. Their ability to maintain a constant atmosphere while throwing a barrage of tempo changes at the listener is quite remarkable. There’s a sense of tension as the listener is never completely sure what’s coming next, he just knows it’s going to keep the sense of drama at high.
“Nusiramink pries Audra” opens things strongly, underlining the final sad notes of the band that precedes them on the split. By comparison their songs are rather melancholy and this is a great way to establish the tone of the remainder of the disc. “Pasauktas Delcios” covers a massive amount of ground and is likely the best track of the four Argharus penned for this split. “Zvaigzdes Aukstybej Uzges” is a heavier track, coming off as a mix of early Dissection, Marduk and Mayhem. The song’s conclusion is an absolutely enthralling experience. A bass slide gives way to monstrous blasting on top of a perfectly placed riff. This finale definitely shows an advanced quality to these newcomer’s songwriting skills. “Nieksas” signals the end of our time with this split. Just under six minutes and almost anthemic, I’d surely want to scream along if I knew the language. The song’s deliberate build into its second half stokes up listener anticipation that isn’t disappointed. Some mutated Slayerisms and cascading drums bridge this song into its last moments. The bass is given a chance to shine and the guitar harmonies become more and more crazed as the last section of this album comes to an end. All in all this is a highly recommended excursion into the Lithuanian black metal scene. The split is limited to 1313 copies and features a very professional layout, great sound and most importantly two quality acts. Seek this one out!

 

Strenuus, Elskrin website [Italy]:

“Sonitus Caeli Ardentis” e uno split cd che mette in mostra due giovani realta lituane, anzi una e mezza visto che Luctus e una one man band capitanata da Simonas, lituano d’origine ma trapiantato per molti anni in Italia. Completano la line-up due session per Sergejus alla batteria e Justinas al basso. La band, stilisticamente, non si discosta di molto rispetto a quanto fatto nel precedente “Ad Arma!” e continua a proporci un black metal dai toni fortemente guerreggianti e abrasivi. Anche le tematiche trattate si mantengono su binari paralleli focalizzandosi su guerra, patriottismo e tematiche simili. Purtroppo sono pero riversati in testi di una banalita e di una semplicita sconcertanti. Buona invece la produzione (The Lair Studio), abbastanza potente e pulita. E’ inutile segnalare qualche canzone, visto che ci troviamo di fronte ad un lavoro molto compatto e privo di picchi sia verso l'altro che verso il basso. Le song sono molto solide e potrebbero essere apprezzate da tutti gli estimatori di Marduk e simili anche se siamo qualitativamente abbastanza distanti da quanto proposto dai capisaldi del genere.
Di formazione ancora piu recente sono invece gli Argharus, attivi dal 2004 e con nessun demo alle spalle. Il quartetto baltico ci offre la parte meno consistente dello split, quattro canzoni per una durata di poco inferiore ai 21 minuti, e propone un black metal piu variegato e piu grezzo rispetto a Luctus. La band mostra una discreta personalita nonostante molti siano i rimandi al black metal di scuola norvegese. Alcuni guizzi rendono di tanto in tanto le song molto apprezzabili, anche se sono pero ancora molte le lacune, tipiche di una band all’esordio. Le basi sono comunque interessanti.
In conclusione, un split che alterna luci ed ombre per due band che devono ancora crescere. [6 / 10]

 

Suzanne De Volder-Ruiter, Mario's Metal mania website [Netherlands]:

What a pleasant surprise, this split cd!! The bands were unknown to me but that changed immediately after I played this cd. The booklet looks good, the lyrics for Luctus are mostly in English and Argharus is written in Lithuanian. Both bands used different studio's to record their music but the production for both bands is good! Sonitas Caeli Ardentis is released a few months ago, March 13th.
It starts off with 6 songs from Luctus, which is basically a one-man-band with a drum computer. Luctus does everything by himself, vocals, guitar and bass guitar. The band as it is now started in 2001 by a guy named Simonas aka Luctus, he recorded 2 demo's in 2002 ("My sorrow in the lifeless landscapes") and 2003 ("The dawn ov the eclipsed desperation"). Musically these demo's were completely different then their music nowadays. The style changed in 2004 with the recording of the mini cd "Ad Arma!", it became more aggressive and powerful. With this release Luctus became well known in the Lithuanian metal scene, he also formed a live band around him to do several live gigs (with a Italian drummer, because Luctus lived in Rome for a number of years). The songs on this split cd were recorded in March 2006 and only later that year it was decided to use them on this release. It is also the first recording what is released by an official label! A new (live) line up has been found to do live shows in Lithuania and Italy and play at festivals in Lithuania: Luctus - (guitars, bass, vocals), Sergejus - (session drummer) & Justinas - (session bass player).
And what about the music on this cd?? Well I can tell you that it sounds really aggressive and brutal with a mean and aggressive grunt and fast drums! This is how black metal should be, without compromise and grim. You can buy this cd without hesitation; it will not disappoint you at all! Luctus does not use corpse paint as a lot of other Black Metal bands do, but that doesn't spoil the fun at all, I would really like to hear more of this band in the near future!!
Argharus is the second band on Sonitas Caeli Ardentis, the band is quite a new band and this is the first recording the band made. The band was formed in 2004 and the guys spend nearly two years on writing songs and finding their own identity and style as a band. In 2006 they presented themselves on the Tvaikas III festival and were "the talk of the town" for a long while! After a few more festivals in 2006 and 2007 Argharus signed up with Ledo Takas Records and went into the studio for the recording of the 4 songs to be released on Sonitas Caeli Ardentis. The music can be described as brutal Death Metal; I don't see it as Black Metal to be honest. But how a style is categorised is not important, Argharus is a talented new band and they have a lot of potential! The music is fierce and fast, not in the style of Luctus but still loud and blasphemous. Line up: Auktuma- bass, vocals Furor- guitar Pestiferos- guitar Opacus- drums. You can buy this cd without hesitation; it will not disappoint you at all! I think that it is a good idea to keep an eye on the Lithuanian metal scene… [85 / 100]

 

Tanja Nusser, Metalroxx website [Germany]:

Längst ist baltischer Extrem Metal kein Geheintipp mehr, sondern wird vielmehr heiß gehandelt. Bands wie Skyforger, Metsatöll oder auch Manatark haben es vor gemacht wie man aus den wäldernen Gebieten emportaucht und viele kleine Bands ziehen nach. Das ist auch gut so, denn sonst würden uns wohl so herrlich-fiese, schwarze Leckerbissen wie die unbeschriebenen LUCTUS oder auch ARGHARUS wohl auf ewig verwehrt bleiben.
Damit man sich aber erst mal einen kleinen Überblick über das Können der hiesigen litauischen Szene machen kann, bekommt man nicht gleich zwei vollwertige Alben vor den Latz geknallt, sondern eine wundervoll aufgemachte Split (16seitiges Booklet, sämtliche Texte, stimmungsvoll-grausiges Cover und Jewelcase) zum gemächlichen Reinhören begab sich auf Reisen nach Deutschland. Zwar haben meine Schreiberkollegen dieses Output schon im letzten Frühjahr auf dem Schreibtisch liegen gehabt, aber vielleicht war der Weg in mein kleines Dörfchen einfach etwas beschwerlicher! Wer weiß...
Den Anfang dieser Split machen die gänzlich unbekannten LUCTUS, welche zwischenzeitlich allerdings ihr Lager in Litauen abgebrochen haben und ins sonnige Italien, genauer Rom, umgesiedelt sind. Den Wurzeln tut dies aber keinen Abbruch und so startet das Ein-Mann-Projekt auch gleich voll durch.
Bevor ich jedoch näher auf das hyperschnelle, emotionslose, kalt-kriegerische Schaffen LUCTUS eingehe sei gesagt, dass er einen durchwegs miesen und nervtötenden Drumschlächter programmiert hat. Außerdem verfeinert er seinen blastenden Old School Black Metal mit Soundsamples ? la Marduk, nämlich diversen Marsch- und Kriegseinspielungen, sowie rockigen und thrashigen Ingredenzien. Dies lockert das auf Dauerfeuer gestellte Hassinferno auf und gibt dem ganzen Schaffen eine weniger kreative, dafür aber hasserfüllte Note. So wird gewaltätig geblastet bis der Panzer dem Erdboden gleich gemacht ist, die brachiale Kampfeswucht die Soldaten von allein ins Jenseits befördert und die Stimmbänder von Simonas blutspuckend um Gnade winseln.
Zudem sei gesagt, dass die Texte im Gegensatz zu heimatlichen Bands wie zum Beispiel Dissimulation, vorwiegend in der englischen Sprache gehalten sind – auch als Litaue ist man eben weltoffen!
Im Gegensatu zu Luctus sind ARGHARUS schon fast die Atmosphäre in Person und man schielt schon deutlich gen Norwegen. Gerade das Duo Satyr und Frost zu Anfangstagen stehen hier Pate und lassen dem Hauch des Todes eine grosszügige Schneise offen. Simpel aber dennoch effektiv spielt man mit den düsteren Melodien und vor allem die Landessprache verleiht den Songs eine gewisse Exotik des Bösen. Basser Auktuma zeigt sich auch gleich für die kehlig-fiesen Keifer verantwortlich und stehen gerade zu den melodiös-ruhigen Parts in einem klangvollen Kontrast. Wohlplatzierte Tempiwechsel lassen zudem Abwechslung aufkommen!
Ich muss allerdings sagen, dass der seit 2001 agierende Alleinherrscher LUCTUS doch etwas im Schatten der 2004 gegründeten Band ARGHARUS steht – zumindest für meine Begriffe!
Wie auch immer, das ist Geschmackssache, wenn auch die Produktion bei ARGHARUS deutlich druck- und kraftvoller ausgefallen ist als beim Splitkollegen. Auf jeden Fall hat uns das Label Ledo Takas Records mit dieser Split einmal mehr bewiesen, dass das Baltikum einige kleine Rohdiamenten des schwarzen Stahls vergraben hat – die einen zwar etwas mehr wertvoll als die anderen, aber immerhin! [6,5 / 10]

 

Tino Braun, Aberration website [Germany]:

Eine Split-CD mit zwei Bands/Projekten aus Litauen. Zum einen Luctus welches wohl eher und mehr oder weniger eine Ein-Mann Geschichte ist (2 Sessionmitglieder gibts fuer den Live-Einsatz). Drumcomputer ist somit eine Sache, mit der man leben muss. Ansonsten ist der Sound eine Art deathiger BM, welcher allerdings streckenweise nicht so besonders spannend ist, auch wenn man sich an den eher traditionellen BM´lern orientiert. Teilweise wird man sehr gut unterhalten.
Die Aufnahmen stammen wie auch die von den Argharus aus dem Jahre 2006. Argharus gefallen mir da schon besser. Richtige Band, richtiger Sound wo man auch später noch im Ohr behält. Gute Songs also. Auch wenn wenn das nur vier Songs sind, so haben die doch Eindruck hinterlassen und so auch die Punkte der ganzen CD nach oben gehebelt. Interessanter BM mit DM Einfluessen. [4 / 5]

 

Viking, Benzoworld website [Italy]:

Dopo Obtest, Dissimulation e Urskumug, torniamo a parlare della Ledo Takas Records, etichetta che, un passo per volta, sta facendo luce sulle ottime potenzialita della scena estrema lituana. Ancora una volta l'argomento della nostra discussione e il black metal, e questo "prendi due paghi uno" tutto lituano ci mette davanti alle performance di due band impegnate (con discreto successo)