Band:	Lucifer's Fall
Album:	Children Of The Night
Style:	Doom metal, Heavy metal
Release date:	April 2023

01. Children Of The Night
02. Doom In The Grave
03. Fight With The Beast
04. Judgement Day
05. Lucifer's Fall [2022 version]

Aah, Lucifer's Fall. It's hard for me to be entirely objective when reviewing this. Ever since fellow Metal Storm reviewer nikarg captured my attention with his alluring review of III - From The Deep, I delved into this band's past discography and discovered my love for every output of this fun Australian doom band. Characterized by theatrical vocals, rampaging riffs, horror-inspired lyrics, and an ever-present, addictive energy, Lucifer's Fall have released a total of three full-length albums, two EPs, and numerous split records over the course of a decade.

Despite spearheading the underground Australian doom scene with success, the vocalist Phil Howlett (AKA Deceiver) felt increasing personal discomfort to perform at live shows. As a result, the band have finally decided to disband Lucifer's Fall. Deceiver plans to focus more on his solo work like Solemn Ceremony, while Invocator (lead guitar), Cursed Priestess (bass), and The Hammer (drums) are aiming to start their own project. And thus, as one final farewell to the fans, Lucifer's Fall decided to release the EP Children Of The Night.

With most of their previous discography focusing on lyrical topics of sorcery, the undead, and Lovecraftian horrors, this final EP resembles a comprehensive compilation that encapsulates all of the band's different styles and favorite themes. The opening title track is a catchy and groovy hymn that slowly culminates in a crescendo of heavy metal greatness. "Fight With The Beast" takes a wilder approach, sounding overall more messy as a result. "Judgement Day", with lyrics centered around the joy of headbanging, shows off a rare thrash-influenced side of Lucifer's Fall that reminds me of their anthem "(Fuck You) We're Lucifer's Fall". Despite the addictive energy induced by their faster songs, I slightly prefer the dark, foreboding mood such as on the song "Doom in the Grave". Slow, ominous guitar riffs create a haunting atmosphere that's accentuated by Deceiver's signature wailing.

Finishing off strong, the band come full-circle as their final EP ends with a re-recording of the band's classic eponymous track — which was, in fact, the first track of the band's first demo release. In the past 10 years, Deceiver's voice hasn't degraded at all; instead, it's become even more powerful. He uses deeper, resonant vocals to even more starkly contrast those high-pitched shrieks. Future projects, albeit as a split band, promise to be successful, as all of the musicians remain highly talented and fresh with ideas.

In conclusion, Children Of The Night is a strong finish to the band's decade of music. Displaying their wild 'n' fast as well as their dark 'n' sinister attributes, Lucifer's Fall succeed in paying tribute to the greatness of their past efforts and show promise for any future endeavors.