When viewing the works of Lux Occulta throughout the evolvement of the band's career, one may witness a most intriguing and enlightening process of maturation. The Polish metal group's chronology reflects not only a singular mental journey between varying phases of personal philosophy, but also an evolution that perhaps may even be defined as the axiomatic one of any pondering, absorbing secular person: A transition from optimism to pessimism; from passion to apathy; from affirmation to Nihilism.
Lux Occulta started as a Pagan black metal band. Their debut album, Forever. Alone. Immortal ('96), as well as their earlier works (which may be viewed on the later-issued compilation Maior Arcana), feature lengthy, epic compositions based on repetitive, almost lazily transforming, simplistic, harmonic, melodic models whose dramatic self-indulgence reflect the lyrical contents, thereby essentially describing the glory and splendor of the individual defiance of Monotheism, the victory of the dynamic entity of the transcendentally and metaphysically independent human being over the submissive, stagnant religious henchman. The unsophisticated, circular melody lines seem to represent the personal, natural ceremony of existence, hiding a valorous cheer behind the veil of extreme metal aesthetics. At that early phase, the musicianship of the band members hadn't reached its peak yet, both compositionally and lyrically. Therefore, although the apparent conceptual stoutness, the musical output seemed at times to be conjuring rather used clichés, making the album appear somehow average to the demanding or un-attentive listener.
Nevertheless, even if unripe, it still is a worthy album, especially considering its primal location in the band's unveiling chain of being.
