It’s become more common in recent years to see individual musicians cross stylistic lines for one reason or another whether it be to try something new, experiment with a different sound on their own terms, or simply seek what they can make out of it. The explosion of one-man bands in that time has enabled vast amounts of individual expression more so than ever before, and it’s throughout the vast underground that we’d be able to find any number of such acts that are more than worth checking out. Lifelost is just one drop out of that ocean, but it was the act’s first excursion just three years ago that showed us a glimpse of what it could bring to the table. Yet, that was just a mere template for what Lifelost would accomplish on its sophomore effort.

Just looking at the amount of outside experience in other bands that this single person has achieved across many different styles of metal whether it be a solo grind project or vocal work in the renowned Wormed, there’s no shortage of knowledge or inspiration to draw from with this bold and unyielding expedition into black metal that Lifelost has been since day one. Since that very day, Lifelost has not been a band to mess with but it is undeniable with everything that “Punitive Damnation” brings to the table that it becomes painfully obvious just exactly what kind of entity we’re dealing with here. There isn’t a single element of the performance that’s brought forth here that can be considered anything less than existentially terrifying and utterly scathing as Lifelost does a spectacular job of delivering a performance that cannot be seen as a voracious black metal experience the likes of which that would allow for any survivors to come out untouched for its the very spirit of Lifelost that is all but supremely vicious. Even in its smallest moments, “Punitive Damnation” has such a claustrophic tone to it all that wraps around every minute that Lifelost commands with a truly dominating force that is the very definition of captivating with the multi-dimensional horrors that are brought before our eyes practically Lovecraftian in their visages as the immensely flavorful black metal is carefully crafted here to make the experience as a whole easily check off all the boxes for what’s necessary for a scathing effort of unrelenting black metal but it easily allows for Lifelost to take on an identity all its own without so much as breaking a sweat in order to bring its terrors into our measly plane of suffering.

A work like this is always to be found within the underground should you look in the right places, but it’s not nearly often enough that we can come across an album the likes of which Lifelost has crafted here to dramatic effect that has so much more to call its own than what I could’ve possibly expected even despite the classiness that was accomplished just three years ago. The very existence of “Punitive Damnation” is something that I cannot help but recommend to any modern excavator of black metal for it will surely have more than enough to sate your desire to see just how far into the beyond that black metal can go with every inch of these seven tracks showing just a glimpse of how far the void’s tendrils go forth.

LISTEN to “Punitive Damnation” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Lifelost on Facebook here.