Review by Jeger on November 10, 2024.

A step away from Occult-driven affinity into the realm of warmongering have the Swedish black metal scene’s Lömsk boldly taken, and these gas-masked harbingers of doom are treading intrepidly into the minefields of the soul - into the battle-hardened spirits of those weary from the scourge - an ode to the will of those lost to life’s bitter conflicts. Take up arms and prepare for the charge! But this is no hunt for glory, this is dread and this is heartbreak; the loss of one’s will to survive the perilous night. On November 1, 2024, Lömsk set into motion via Vendetta a campaign of the most dismal consort in the form of their debut EP, Act I. 

I don’t normally review EPs, but this one is a masterclass and deserves all the praise it can get. Not only is it a work of harmonious/melodious perfection, but you can palpably feel the gloom like saturated storm clouds hovering above the fields of battle just before rainfall. And as the boots dredge up the earth beneath and as the panzers shimmer under freshly fallen showers of perdition’s rain, it’s to the sound of true Swedish black metal: melodic, epic, and untainted by modernity’s curse. Not a harkening back to the second wave and not a contemporary work either, but it is its very own entity; a piece fit for the ages. Act I - a foreshadowing of future greatness and a call to arms for the broken. Boasting heartfelt tracks like 'Shovels And Ropes' and 'The Eternal Return' that conjure up visions of the grudge and of the eternal struggle as portrayed by warfare, this EP is truly a cathartic experience. Rolling tremolo riffs and finesse rhythmic patterns provide a most ethereal atmosphere thus far without the use of keyboards or synths; unpretentious and dignified black metal crafted with patience and integrity at the fore. 

Heed the alarm! As the aforementioned 'The Eternal Return' begins, it’s to the ominous sound of droning sirens just before a most despairing musical passageway into the realm of all hope lost unfolds. No refuge or sanctuary from the onslaught, no hope or dreams for a better tomorrow, only the reality of war - the perpetual internal conflict and there are no prisoners taken this night. Ghostly groans; the echoes of spirits lost to the indiscriminate impact of an existential blitzkrieg. The atmosphere thickens into an even more sinister ambiance now as keyboard effects compound an already misery-drenched experience. Wisely composed and brilliantly executed black metal. Music for the bitter remembrance of innocence lost, for candles burned to stumps, and for memento mori. 

LÖMSK - a brand new presence on the scene, but you’d never know it upon listening to Act I. This is obviously a group of veterans who’ve been doing this for a while. You just don’t get this kind of quality or this level of artistic maturity from newcomers. With Act I, Lömsk are bound to make a memorable impact on the world of Swedish black metal and it’s only the beginning. Come now and reap the spoils of war! For the fruit of suffering has arrived and it’s a most fulfilling bounty - the kind of nourishment for the spirit that only true black metal can provide. Bravo.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10