HARDWARES

Bergen, Norway's LAKEI has the unique ability to immediately electrify its listener and, if we're going to be completely honest, this scribe's initial reaction to the massive Konspirasjoner was "Holy shit, quosse qui se passe icitte?", a mixed French/English slang lyric by Canada's own RADIO RADIO that translates to "Holy shit, what's going on here?" It's important to quote that Radio Radio sentiment in its original manner because Lakei's inimitability and exceptionality deserve nothing less, as this group writes large and brings it larger, one even more impressed in the wake of learning that this only Lakei's debut record. While pundits might be quick to call this post-metal and make the inevitable NEUROSIS comparison, there's much more happening both at Konspirasjoner's core and at its external peripherals, this album incorporating elements of black metal and thrash amongst the ISIS moments and it is precisely these intense flairs of innovation that keep Konspirasjoner intriguing and without the boredom that usually accompanies so many of the Neurosis clones. CULT OF LUNA might be the most apt comparison as that group always experiments with its patented sense of darkened panache, but Lakei is more grounded in traditional metal elements to blaze the same northern sky as the aforementioned, which makes Konspirasjoner the tour de force that it is, this record exploring wide-ranging reclusive spaces in very inviting ways, Lakei always conscious that the listener is busy/has lots to do and, after all, is listening to this record for enjoyment instead of for vast expanses of ambivalence. Lakei has written the kind of record it takes most bands a decade or so to create and if this particular death is only the beginning, then metal's got an enviable catalogue coming its way in the next years.