Limbonic Art
Epitome of Illusions

THE REVIEW

In just under 40 seconds, violence takes shape in the most devastating and dark way you have ever heard. 40 seconds and hell breaks loose; as if the box where you keep all your frustrations, promises made and not kept, broken dreams was suddenly uncovered.
Symphony in Moonlight and Nightmares represents all of this.

I've rarely had the chance to feel such true, unconstructed anger explode without even giving you the time to think, to do something... you'll be left speechless. The album that contains this little gem is Epitome of Illusions by the Norwegians (strange, right?!?) Limbonic Art, a duo composed of Daemon engaged in his alienated and alienating screaming at the edge of human (beyond which there is only Burzum) and of Morpheus who takes care of the entire musical part and drum machine programming, and by listening to the entire production of Limbonic Art, one can easily say that the genius of these two Norwegians has no equal within the black (symphonic) metal community.

In reality, Epitome of Illusion is a collection of demos composed before their first official release: that Moon in the Scorpio, judged by many as the pinnacle of symphonic black metal of the 90s, and this is why the songs are not really the best, indeed some are quite poor. See, in this regard, track number five Solace of The Shadows.
Others like Eve of Midnight might be appealing after the first listens but after prolonged listening tend to become tiring, especially due to the somewhat "baroque" and slightly cliché keyboard arrangements, due to their lack of experience.

The true nature of Limbonic Art is only revealed in the aforementioned Symphony in Moonlight and Nightmares and in the very strange Sources to Agonies where a splendid string score intertwines with Daemon's sick and unexpectedly melodic screaming to create a true masterpiece, perhaps one of the few black metal ballads I have ever come across.

In conclusion, a half masterpiece, between songs that could have been better and others that represent an excellent calling card. Buy it only if at a very low price (I found it for 7€).