A majestic, metal conglomeration

Liturgy is a notable band in the metal scene. They consistently put out underground successes that morph the thought of metal music. It is no surprise that on their most recent album, 93696, that they found a new way to express themselves to mostly positive results.

The album starts with the haunting, “Daily Bread.” It features an acapella female voice that chants over the track like a church choir. One highlight is the second track, “Djennaration.” It has a majestic and bright instrumental accompanied by screeching vocals that creates a ying-yang affect. Another highlight is the fourth track, “Angel of Sovereignty,” which feels the most angelic on the album. It is a great interlude that shows off the disposition of dark metal and the joyfulness of choir/religious music. One last highlight is the tenth track, “Ananon.” It’s a more traditional metal song as if it came from a fight scene in an action movie. Some notable parts within songs are the introduction to “Before I Knew the Truth” which incorporates elements of glitchcore. Another is the synth ballad of “Angel of Hierarchy” which, although feeling somewhat out of place, contributes to the album beautifully.

While the album is good, there are some things that hold it back from being great. For one, the vocals can be a bit of a turnoff compared to the instrumentals. On some of the songs, the vocals can actually jeopardize the aesthetic the band was trying to go for. Another flaw is the album can get a bit too garish. In terms of the themes they were trying to explore, some of the tracks are a bit too bright and over the top in some parts.

93696 is an overall positive listening experience. While the instrumentals can be appealing to new listeners, the vocals may turn some listeners away. The female vocalist on this album should collaborate with other metal artists since the vocals blend greatly within the genre. The album is a great streak in Liturgy’s catalog that fans can only hope they continue to add to in the future.