HIDEOUS DIVINITY
LV-426
Century Media
Every release since their 2012 debut Obeisance Rising (Unique Leader Records), Italy’s HIDEOUS DIVINITY has astounded listeners with their ability to re-emphasize the Extreme in Extreme Metal. They just released a 3-song EP entitled LV-426 that demonstrates that their creativity was not at all hindered by the restrictions of the past year. Their second release through their new label home Century Media is a follow-up to 2019’s Simulacrum and features 2 originals along with an unsuspecting cover of the COHEED AND CAMBRIA song "Delirium Trigger". An actual appropriate selection as it ties together the 16 minute EP’s theme involving James Cameron’s Aliens.
By definition, LV-426 also known as ACHERON is the colonized, or should we say FORMERLY colonized, moon where the horror of Alien and Aliens takes place. The nearly indestructible Xenomorphs wipeout the colony only to leave a small girl named “Newt” as the lone survivor. The first track titled "Acheron (Stream of Woe)" tells the story from the perspective of the would-be rescued young girl whose whole family and supporting crew had been killed by the “Aliens”. With the lyrical video displaying the EP’s artwork, the
words “My mommy always said there were no monsters….Not real ones…But there are!” are chilling just as the opening track is immensely heavy with over 6 minutes of story-telling involving an intro, a meaty middle and climactic ending.
The second track cleverly titled "Chestburst" needs no explanation if you’re a fan of the films… but I’m going to explain it anyways. The song itself rumbles in your chest much like after the “face-hugger”, as it’s affectionately labeled, has already implanted its embryo in you, growing until ultimately ripping out through your chest with screams everywhere like the final minute of the song with a clever effect that sounds like the alien's cry.
HIDEOUS DIVNITY were able to achieve a great release here with LV-426 that, just like an embryo that has been implanted in your chest, looms until their next full release that will rip your guts much like all of their previous albums.
4.5 Out Of 5.0
