Review by Felix on April 1, 2025.

“Lurking in the Depths” is the title of Irae’s fifth full-length, but simultaneously it is a fitting description for the status of the Portuguese black metal scene in general and of the one-man-project in particular. The sparse presentation of the digipak therefore seems almost logical. The pretty crude production with its outer-space vibes also leaves the impression that it cannot hold a candle to international standards. On the other hand, it lends Irae’s work a certain individuality. But, to avoid misunderstandings, this alone does not make “Lurking in the Depths” an amazing album.

“Nightshade” kicks off the full-length in a solid-to-good manner. It’s a pretty swift opener with some comparatively expressive lines. There is no special or even outstanding element, but it houses some relatively haunting moments and its quite spooky intro rolls out the carpet in a fitting manner. Double bass, raw vocals, and more or less cursed guitar lines create a proper beginning. Sometimes the single parts do not fit together perfectly, but all in all, everything is easily acceptable. First little signs of weakness occur in track two, “Black Metal Violador”. Its mid-paced parts lack intensity, while the rapidly performed lines suffer from their very primitive design. The song is no downer because it still has its sinister moments. Nevertheless, now the direction is set. It’s going downhill.

While the production seems to get more and more blurred and muddy, the lear contours of the songs are hardly identifiable. The voice sounds almost mechanic, the bass and the drums do not penetrate through the fog the guitars create. This makes “Lurking in the Depths” a partly exhausting and strenuous experience. Songs like the restlessly running “A Blaze in the Mist” can be enjoyed as a kind of tribute to the Emperor before the Norwegians had become the excellent songwriters they were on “In the Nightside Eclipse”. But the name Emperor and the basic, underground-worshipping production of the here-reviewed album cannot go hand in hand. Perhaps a track like “Enchurralado” is also not completely bad, but its stupid lines of the intro return again and again during the main part of the song and this does not make things better.

From my point of view, the material reveals that Vulturius did not have his most creative days during the songwriting process. Although he tries to give the songs different moods and a lot of tempo changes, a clear vision is missing. To me it seems as if he falls prey to his own ideas because he has not found a way to concentrate on the good ones and to reject the mediocre ones. This and the nearly embarrassing simplicity of the guitar work lead the album not into the black metal hall of fame, but at best to the car park in front of it. Fortunately, the new EP has shown that Vulturius can do it better than he does on “Lurking in the Depths”.

Rating: 5.7 out of 10

Review by Denis on May 13, 2003.

The mastermind behind this very special opus is Johann Bran Cleerman. All words and music were written by him and he also arranged, performed everything that can be heard and enjoyed. Johann has realized what every musician / composer dream to do at least once in their life: a solo project that he or she can master with no restraint or set boundaries. A true creation in its purest sense.

Opening track 'Materia Prima' is an instrumental piece made of highly sophisticated symphonic landscapes in which the piano leads the way throughout scenery of neo-classical arrangements beating to the pulse of occasional traditional percussions. The mood is grandiose and epic. 'Visita Interiora Terrae' has a calm and dark introduction dressed with piano notes and keyboards sounds, becoming heavier and more mysterious when the drums and Johann' strange vocals join in. His voice is clean, somewhat theatrical and tortured. The last measures are calmer and a spooky passages, with spacey keys closing this composition. The third opus, 'Rectificadoque Invenies Occultum Lapidem' can be considered as 'la piece de resistance' with its 18:22 running time and is a true majestic symphonic epic with all the fancy elements involved: piano, bells, beautiful melodic lines, dark low tone spoken words, tortured screams, dramatic passages conveyed by chords, ensemble sounds becoming more intense and tragic as it progresses towards the end with the percussions rolling, the tortured vocals doing a duo with some demoniac low tonalities then some more screams, dramatic chords, becoming calm almost serene as if delivered from pain and suffering. Finally, 'Veram Medicinam' begins dark with spoken words on a dramatic symphonic decor echoed by bells, then a chord ensemble joins in the tragedy with loud percussions before a mysterious mood with demoniac spoken words takes place. The following moments will bring in some more piano and chords parts, disturbed and theatrical vocals, somber and beautiful symphonic arrangements and some grave and devilish voice near the end.

Bottom Line: Impressive neo-classical somber compositions.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Originality: 8.5
Atmosphere: 8.5
Production: 9
Overall: 8

Rating: 8.6 out of 10

Review by Denis on May 13, 2003.

The mastermind behind this very special opus is Johann Bran Cleerman. All words and music were written by him and he also arranged, performed everything that can be heard and enjoyed. Johann has realized what every musician / composer dream to do at least once in their life: a solo project that he or she can master with no restraint or set boundaries. A true creation in its purest sense.

Opening track 'Materia Prima' is an instrumental piece made of highly sophisticated symphonic landscapes in which the piano leads the way throughout scenery of neo-classical arrangements beating to the pulse of occasional traditional percussions. The mood is grandiose and epic. 'Visita Interiora Terrae' has a calm and dark introduction dressed with piano notes and keyboards sounds, becoming heavier and more mysterious when the drums and Johann' strange vocals join in. His voice is clean, somewhat theatrical and tortured. The last measures are calmer and a spooky passages, with spacey keys closing this composition. The third opus, 'Rectificadoque Invenies Occultum Lapidem' can be considered as 'la piece de resistance' with its 18:22 running time and is a true majestic symphonic epic with all the fancy elements involved: piano, bells, beautiful melodic lines, dark low tone spoken words, tortured screams, dramatic passages conveyed by chords, ensemble sounds becoming more intense and tragic as it progresses towards the end with the percussions rolling, the tortured vocals doing a duo with some demoniac low tonalities then some more screams, dramatic chords, becoming calm almost serene as if delivered from pain and suffering. Finally, 'Veram Medicinam' begins dark with spoken words on a dramatic symphonic decor echoed by bells, then a chord ensemble joins in the tragedy with loud percussions before a mysterious mood with demoniac spoken words takes place. The following moments will bring in some more piano and chords parts, disturbed and theatrical vocals, somber and beautiful symphonic arrangements and some grave and devilish voice near the end.

Bottom Line: Impressive neo-classical somber compositions.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Originality: 8.5
Atmosphere: 8.5
Production: 9
Overall: 8

Rating: 8.6 out of 10