Death is the one absolute facing all of us, and a rite of passage steeped in layers of tradition. Yet no one can prepare for the final moments of life, the gray space between realms where one slips from this world to whatever comes next. The juxtaposition between the terrifying unknown and ritualistic goodbyes will define the final act for each and every one of us, regardless of cultural or religious practices.
Mysterious duo Lord Sin capture both sides of mortality with their eerie combination of doom and psychedelic rock. Their music is largely improvised and built in layers, the two feeding off the haunted rituals of doom metal and infusing them with the unnerving unpredictability of occult rock. Now on the verge of unveiling their sophomore album, Lord Sin invite us to explore the frightening moments just before death in the new video for the song “Living Sin.”
The unsettling black-and-white video feels like found footage of cult rituals, with shrouded figures stalking abandoned buildings and overgrown fields. Distorted lenses and skewed angles imply these images were taken illicitly, perhaps by a questioning convert documenting secret horrors. They aren’t prisoners, yet they cannot escape the thrall of their bizarre little world as their companions experience their final days.
The sensation of unmasking dark secrets is no accident, as “Living Sins” explores a deathbed confessional. Lord Sin shared the meaning behind the song:
“Living Sin depicts a phase in the life of someone close, where, on their deathbed, they confess all their sins to a loved one, burdened by the weight of pressure just before their last breath. This person lived their life like a specter, which is why the album is titled 'Confessions.'”
Indeed, the song has the unpredictable emotional arc and intensity of a desperate revelation. Massive riffs arc over evil incantations that echo the gnarled gasps of a dying sinner, while tangles of noise convey the kind of unhinged rambling that can only come when facing your own mortality. The death march feel of doom collides with psychedelic improvisation, imitating a furious monologue from a stranger to a loved one. Lord Sin find new levels of emotional depth and terror in their nightmarish sound as they invite us into the void between life and death, masks and revelations.
Confessions will be released on December 13th via Larvae. Watch the video for “Living Sin” below and pre-order the album from Larvae.