Lumen Ad Mortem |A Grave Ascent |Hypnotic Dirge Records

Lumen Ad Mortem formed in South Australia in 2019 and released their debut, "Upon The Edge Of Darkness", in 2023. The band returns with "A Grave Ascent", their second full length, released through Hypnotic Dirge Records on June 19th, 2026. Their sound sits firmly within melodic black metal, combining fast tremolo riffing, mournful melodies, keyboards and atmospheric arrangements with harsh vocals. The lineup features Aaron Tuck on guitars, keyboards and orchestration, Gregor Pikl on vocals, Rory Amoy on percussion and Morris Ewings on bass, with Lachlan Odell and Lachlan Stopa contributing live keyboards and guitar.

"A Grave Ascent" covers around 41 minutes, moving between rapid black metal attacks and slower, darker sections where the keyboards deepen the atmosphere. The guitar work has a strong melodic focus, while the bass and percussion give the arrangements enough movement to prevent the songs from becoming static. The lyrics revolve around death, loss, vengeance and the harsh Australian landscape, adding a bleak emotional layer to the music. Patrick Pages Oliver handled production and mixing at Blood Wolf Productions, with Owen Gillett mastering the album. The production gives the guitars, vocals, percussion and atmospheric elements a defined presence, keeping the colder side of the music intact. "A Grave Ascent" is a dark and melodic black metal album with a strong atmospheric component, built for melody and aggression working together without softening the genre's darker edge.

|7.5