Review: “Liber K” by Lam

What the World needs more of is Pandemics, Aliens and The Occult brought to you via the medium of Alternative Metal. So step forth Lam, a quartet of seasoned musicians split between two countries in Méribel, France and Warrington, United Kingdom who chose the name from an entity encountered by occultist Aleister Crowley in the 1910’s. During a ritual known as the Amalantrah Working, Lam is said to have passed through from another dimension and a portrait drawn of the entity after the event, went on to become the visual archetype for the ‘Gray’ aliens in modern popular culture.

Lam is formed of Mike Pilat on lead vocals (from acclaimed Swiss metal band Herod, ex The Ocean), George Whalley (Broohaha, Gotts Street Park) on drums, Ben Vickers and James Beedham on guitar and bass, who got together in March 2020 and finished recording their debut release in the September of the same year. The EP is an intriguing offering from start to finish with “Lament” offering a eerie post World War II ditty with quirky vocals and obscure arrangement that makes you wonder what on Earth you’re listening to before it descends into the black depths of an avant-garde unhinged disintegration. It is very much as if Gregory Puciato and Mike Patton got together and recorded their memories of an hallucinogenic nightmare. “Ruin” on the other hand doesn’t have that obscure introduction, instead offering something more direct while maintaining the odd time signatures and off kilter moments. A menacingly brooding anthem it is not for the faint hearted. Moments of influence from Grindcore and Black Metal perforate “Absolved by Violence” with bursts of blast beats rippling through the more caustic passages that leave you holding onto your hat like you’re riding a bucking bronco. A challenging and rewarding listen in equal measure, “Liber K” is sonically as insane as it is lyrically inventive [8/10]

Track listing

1. Lament
2. Ruin
3. Absolved By Violence

“Liber K” by Lam is out 11th February 2021 via 4th Note Records and is available over at bandcamp