LUDICRA

"Hollow Psalms" 2xLP
2010 (LIFE 022)
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A burley 50-minute 8-song masterpiece packaged in story-book digi-pak format. Full on blackmetal /grind from San Francisco with guttural female vocals, blast-beats, punishing doom stricken gloom and instrumental interludes. This is black metal, but expect no Norway worship here, songs about snowy mountain peaks, or panda bear make-up. It is black metal by default only, and depressing and harsh by circumstance. Hopeless and angry; featuring members of Hammers of Misfortune, Fölcainö, Impaled, Ominum, and the Lord Weird Slough Feg. The band sites musical influences as despair, tragedy, loneliness, and ennui, though their sound could be more easily compared to the likes of Enslaved, Mayhem, Bethlehem, Dark Throne, and Dodheimsgard.

Track Listing:

1) Tomorrow Held in Scorn (mp3)
2) Hollow Promise (mp3)
3) The Final Lamentation (mp3)
4) Userpent
5) Heaped Upon Impassive Floors
6) Damn the Night
7) Tragoedia
8) Awake to Grey

Release Date: 2002
Catalog #: LIFE 022

Reviews:

"Finally, the debut record from this fearsome local black metal fivesome sees the light of day. Ludicra is yet another project from the fertile metal mind of John Cobbett (Hammers Of Misfortune, The Lord Weird Slough Feg, Iron Cemetary, etc.), this time with the help of local rockers/scene fixtures Aesop (Hickey, Dr. Dre Del, etc.), Christy Cather (Missile Command), Ross Sewage (Impaled), and Laurie Sue Shanaman (who works at the veterinarian where Andee's girlfriend and Erik his housemate take their cats!).

Ludicra's debut reveals them to be a highly advanced black metal creation. They're complex, moody, darkly psychedelic, and 'post-rocky' like AQ-faves Enslaved -- a very good thing. The droning savage trance rock of another AQ black metal fave (and fellow San Franciscans) Weakling is also evident. Maybe it's Aesop's punk-derived drumming, or the song-writing dynamics, but while this is very metal indeed it also betrays an awareness of other strands of underground rock. And of course it's heavy, textured, and exceedingly well-crafted, as you would expect from the pen/plectrum of Sir Lord John Cobbett.
Ludicra has two singers: Christy (who also plays guitar) and Laurie Sue, and while both vocalists are women, you won't hear any of the sweet singing that Hammers of Misfortune's female vocalist does. No, it's all very extreme -- except for some wordless background choruses and an interlude or two of gentle chanting, they mostly deliver scary throat-shredding screams that upend gender stereotypes. But, like Hammers, having more than one vocalist allows for interesting variety and dynamics. Lots of acoustic interludes and dark and rhythmic breakdowns that hint at the band members' diverse indie rock/post punk/punk rock backgrounds. That, and Ludicra's ability to yet generate at the same time such a convincing black metal atmosphere, makes for a very satisfying and compelling listen.
The care Ludicra took with their music also extends to the packaging. "Hollow Psalms" comes in a standard digipack, but upside-down/reverse so that it opens more like a book (with the cd tray on the inside front cover, and the booklet on the right side). The art on the cd even says "Ex Libris" with a space for your name, in keeping with the storybook theme. The handlettered booklet includes lyrics and is illustrated by bassist Ross. We're very impressed, all around. "

- Aquarius Records