Location: Kozani, West Macedonia
Country: Greece
Genre: Black metal
Full length: Self titled
Format: Digital
Label: Wolfkult Religion
Release date: July 14, 2024
Likno just released their debut full-length a few months ago, and after repeated listens, I would deem it worth checking out if you like black metal that’s both strident and atmospheric.
According to Encyclopedia Metallum, the band is signed to Wolfkult Religion, an independent label founded last year and currently home to three bands, Likno, Adversaire (Canada) and Black Fullmoon (Puerto Rico). The label’s obscurity seems fitting considering what they bring to the table.
During the Covid outbreak, Flægra and Neurosplinter got together and experimented with different musical styles and sounds before finally settling on black metal. It appears some of that experimentation has carried over into the songs. The tracks are well defined here and Likno makes compelling use of rawness, atmosphere and effects. The cleam, crisp production contains musicianship that spellbinds as much as it hits hard.
The intro cut is a fleeting glimpse of an endless expanse of snow where piercing cold winds perpetually blast and roar. A vision that persists long after the track ends. The guitars, bass and drums makes it seem the air is becoming colder with each passing moment. The razor sharp guitars, penetrating vocals, and understated atmosphere immerses you to the point of making you feel as though you're submerged and drowning in it.
The way the bass and drums are mixed by Zisis Sapnaras (guitarist for Greece’s Carnivora’s Feast), gives the sense of drowning more of a rapier-like quality than typical. I'm no equipment or recording expert but it sounds as if the guitars were recorded with a flanger for effective performance. The sound is somewhat similar to old Maniac Butcher (Czechia), only less in-your-face and more psychologically disturbing.
In addition to the creepy, unearthly atmosphere Likno paints with their songs, the addition of traditional Greek folk music with some classical and medieval music expands the vast snowdrifts to infinity. While surrounded by the penetrating cold of the arctic, you are also aware of something much more tenebrous and sinister. Something somberly heathenistic closing in. In order to appreciate the full effect of all this, you must listen to this album for yourself, especially “Void”, “Birth” and the epic “Still”. –Dave Wolff
Lineup:
Flægra: Guitars, synths, additional bass, vocals
Neurosplinter: Drums, bass, vocals, flute recorder
T.-Pan-Rep: Guest kaval (“Birth”)
Track list:
1. 0.0
2. Likno
3. Void
4. Birth
5. Sea
6. Still
7. White Wings
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