The audio equivalent of late-period Hammer Horror, ‘Lucifer V’ can be characterized by the atmosphere, craftsmanship, and trademark camp that those gothic horror and fantasy films had in spades. 

“At the Mortuary,” a record highlight, melds progressive moments with dyed-in-the-wool classic metal and tasty hard-rock guitar licks. The requisite bells and tritones of its intro worship at the altar of Black Sabbath before Lucifer launches into a verse section that has a groove for days with its rubbery bass riffs and proto-metal-101 lead-guitar fills. The horror camp of the uber-catchy organ-thick chorus – “I fell to my knees when I saw you at the mortuary” is balanced by the funereal-ethereal lament of the song’s middle-section – “there is no shame to put your arms around a memory.” Appropriately released as the single for the new record, the George Romero-indebted music video is pure retro-horror bliss.

“Slow Dance at the Crypt,” with its descending slow-dirge riffs, bluesy leads, and bittersweet chorus accentuate Johanna Platow Andersson’s (The Oath) hazy, captivating vocals. Johanna’s multi-instrumentalist husband and writing partner Nicke Andersson (Entombed, Imperial State Electric, The Hellacopters) brings some name recognition to the ritual, but Johanna is the clear star here, and rightfully so.

The opening track “Fallen Angel” is a compact and energetic track that wallows in pre-hair-metal 80s ribaldry. The wicked combination of hard-rock boogie, a catchy chorus, and the creamiest of guitar tones sets a high bar for the rest of the record.

The cleverly titled “A Coffin Has no Silver Lining,” another record highlight, with its dark chugging guitars and scream-along chorus once again exorcizes Lucifer’s innermost early-80s metal demons.

Elsewhere, “The Dead Don’t Speak” builds a twisty staccato riff into a brawny hard-rock stomp with a metallic post-middle-eight that burns hotter than the fiery embers of hell itself. The solid mid-paced melodic rock of “Riding Reaper” boasts a devilishly good chorus and subtle vintage synths that up the 70s ante. 

‘Lucifer V’s’ clear and ballsy retro-minded production doesn’t skimp on the low-end and puts Johanna’s distinctive vocals front and center, supported by snarling lead guitars, atmospheric low-gain-guitar-arpeggios and keyboards, and drums that swing more than they stomp.

Lucifer’s latest creation ‘Lucifer V,’ grafts together bits and pieces of their previous LPs to create an unholy monster of a record. A career best.