Lux Occulta

 Today in 1997 Lux Occulta released the album Dionysos

Dukla (early), Cracow (later),Poland Black Metal (early), Extreme Avant-garde Metal (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 1994-2002, 2011-present

Lux Occulta had a relatively short run in the late nineties, but remains the clear BNR favorite among Polish metal bands. Formed in late 1994, they reached their peak with 1999's My Guardian Anger, where they harnessed their highly original brand of frenzied, technical black metal, most notable for some brilliant keyboard and drum work. The followup, 2001's The Mother And The Enemy, went off the rails a bit, clearly showing a band in conflict, as the album featured several tracks in the mold of their previous works but also tracks that branched out in bizarre directions, such as the odd but ultra-cool Portishead-styled trip-hop of "Midnight Crisis" and "Yet Another Armageddon", and the industrial death march of "Gambit". To some these alternate tracks made no sense whatsoever, though to these ears they were a fresh addition and a great contrast to their more traditional works. Unfortunately it was this lack of direction that most likely led to the band's demise soon after Mother's release. As late as 2007 a revamped lineup was still in existence, but all was quiet until 2012, when formal work commenced on a new album, now set for a spring 2014 release.

Pagan Records

Jaroslaw "Jaro.Slav." Szubrycht: Vocals

Kastor: Guitar

Vogg (from Polish death metal band Decapitated): Guitar

U.Reck: Keyboards

Martin (also from Decapitated): Bass

Additional Musicians

Jackie: Bass

Kriss: Drums

Flute: Marcin Rumiñski

Female Vocals: Anna Wesolowska, Wizenna Nowotarska

1. The Birth of the Race (7:40)

2. Blessed Be the Rain (7:25)

3. Chalice of Lunar Blood (8:48)

4. Nocturnal Dithyramb (6:42)

5. Ecstasy and Terror (9:19)

6. Upwards to Conquer Heaven (6:51)

Total Time: 46:46

CD and tape format.

Re-released as Digi-CD in 2001 by Metal Mind Productions with "The Forgotten Arts" demo as a bonus.

Recording information:

Recorded during July 1997 at Selani Studio.

Dionysos is the second album by the Polish symphonic black metal band Lux Occulta (Latin for "Hidden Light"). The 2002 re-release of the album by Metal Mind includes the band's demo The Forgotten Arts, which can also be found on the band's Maior Arcana compilation, in its entirety as bonus material. Unlike the version on Maior Arcana, the version appended to this album retains the same running order as on the original release