Lamp of Murmuur – The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy
Release Date: 14th November 2025
Label: Wolves of Hades
Bandcamp
Genre: Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Goth Metal.
FFO: Spectral Wound, Immortal, Old Man’s Child, Stormkeep, Der Weg einer Freiheit, Mare Cognitum, One of Nine.
Review By: Rick Farley
It’s been two years since the release of Saturnian Bloodstorm, the third album from California’s Lamp of Murmuur. An album that propelled the band further into the black metal limelight with less lo-fi production, and a more pronounced sound closer to second wave worship, particularly that of the mighty Immortal. Despite the blatant comparisons, Lamp of Murmuur has become one of black metals most exciting bands and the fourth full length album The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy has become one of many people’s most anticipated releases of 2025.
So, depending on what side of the coin you fall under, whether it be refreshing to hear a band try to evolve an already established and beloved sound or whether you believe Immortal already exist so why bother, I can say that for me The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy is the natural continuation of the last album and most certainly is well worth your time. It takes elements of that album and amps the upward trajectory in diverse ways. It’s more atmospherically eerie, has gothic rock elements and sounds more dramatic in scope. It’s proggy at times, but not so much in the traditional sense of complexity but more so in empyrean 70s rock undertones. It gleams brighter with heavy metal, sword soaked triumph. Lamp of Murmuur is still deeply rooted in aggressive black metal, it’s just now the comparisons of second wave worship don’t apply quite as easily. This is a fierce new beast built from the same mold but in an entirely divergent way.
Forests of Hallucinations is an icy sweeping of melody that feels as menacing as it does lavish. A combination of potent drums and skittering riffs, combined with flourishes of synth accents, lead into a vicious black metal surge of warring intensity. Symphonic hits underline the riffs, giving the track a grander scope. The vocals are ugly, gurgled and add devilishness to the already nasty tones. Nine minutes of demonic hellfire ready to strip you of your flesh and pull your soul down into the abyss.
The wickedly thrashy Reincarnation of the Witch is vile and full of violent, punishing black metal. It’s ferociously stormy, full of frozen riffs and wailing growls. The singable chorus is catchy, while still be ungodly brutal in its pace. The track takes a clean guitar passage and flips it into a powerful double kick led burst of gothic energy. A singular guitar melody acts as a solo that’s simple but entrancing in its basic form, piercing your conscience. It’s set against the dreamlike pulse of the music which gives it even more, near paralyzing ambience.
Album closer A Brute Angel’s Sorrow shows off the albums progginess with a forward moving, acoustically chorded, cleanly sung, gothic ditty. It’s simple but drives itself using a stompy vibe without much drum percussion. It’s hard to say where fans will land on this song, but personally, it really worked for me as a closer. There’s no less aggressiveness on this album, but rather there’s a lot more creative use of dynamics, gothic atmosphere, and fresh ideas that generate from the bands already established style.
The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy has evolved the band’s sound enough to be pegged modernly innovative, but also still ugly enough to fit in with the blackest of bands. There’s no doubt that Lamp of Murmuur will become now and beyond, considered amongst those at the top of the mountain. This is essential listening.
(4.5 / 5)
