Lucifuge / Bunker 66 - Of Night And Lust MCD

Both BUNKER 66 and LUCIFUGE should be familiar names to those versed in the dark deeds of DYING VICTIMS: Just earlier this year, BUNKER 66 released through the label a split 7” with fellow Italian filth-bangers HELLCRASH, as well as their long-awaited (and rightly celebrated) fourth album, Beyond the Help of Prayers, earlier in 2021; for their part, LUCIFUGE released their equally celebrated fourth album, Infernal Power, through DYING VICTIMS during the spring of 2021. Here on Of Night and Lust, both bands each deliver three exclusive songs, making for 24 minutes of ancient speed metal sleaze and metalpunk ghoulishness.

BUNKER 66 are up first and show no signs of slowing down, especially so after 15 years as a band now. “Mellhammer” and “Sulphurous Lust” are exemplary displays of their greasy speed-metal surge, and yet subtly exude an eerie aspect that perhaps point the way forward for future recordings. Capping their entry is a faithful cover of Motörhead’s “Doctor Rock,” which both underlines BUNKER 66’s roots as well as reverently paying respect to the fallen gods of Lemmy and Würzel. LUCIFUGE follow with an even-more-blackened iteration of their etched-in-stone metalpunk across the tracks “The Great Unseen” and “In Blood and Dust.” They conclude with a surprising-yet-storming anthem fittingly titled “Warriors of the Night.” While many metal anthems have been attempted under such a title, you’ve truly never heard one as invigorating as this – nor LUCIFUGE so bright and brassy!