Heavy Metal band Cretus arose from nothingness to take the scene by storm, first decimating audiences in New Orleans back in 2014 after their initial show, where they supported the likes of Down. Gaining a cult-like following garbed in black masks and cloaks, enthralled with hypnotically dark music and voodoo-like lyrics that takes them to another place in another time, this band is one many should be compelled to check out. Much like Sweden’s Ghost, draped with mystique, now it is time for Cretus to dominate the world with their debut EP, Dux Mea Lux, (Latin for My Guide Light) which was released September 4th via Pavement Records.
Dux Mea Lux is five tracks, twenty-six minutes of clean guitar riffs and drums on hyper drive minus the screaming/growling that tends to come with the Thrash Metal genre these days. For example, “Price of Immortality,” a harpsichord starts the tune innocently if not a little ominously. Then, the guitars kick in with a hypnotic hook that turns melodic as the drums alternate between anthemic and Thrash while the guys sing that sacrifices come with immortality, “Blood will prove your loyalty.” Next, “Darkness Bites” adds the element of feedback to their musical repertoire as they continue to alternate between Metal and Thrash. The guitar hook on this one could be catchy or repetitious depending on the listener. This track seems to be another warning that the grass is not always greener on the other side, “Hello,/ my Love/did you forget/the darkness bites?”
Moving on to “What I Will,” this track begins like a piece in a Horror movie leading to the big reveal with shades of the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” before breaking out the hard guitars as this song demands total allegiance or rails on religion in general, “You must believe in faith/without free will.” The thrashing “The Leader” has a driving beat with smoking guitars and drums to spare as the tune plays like propaganda, trying to persuade the listener. Finishing Dux Mea Lux is “Little Children.” An atmospheric intro misdirects this piece as it transitions from early ’90s Metal to a riff-driven Thrash as the propaganda-ish message continues to the thunderous finale.
Being the new kids on the block, Cretus will be in the listener’s crosshairs. With that being said, Dux Mea Lux is like the icing on the cake, thus the listener will want more dark social commentary. The band is currently off tour furthering the mysteriousness of Cretus, be sure to check out Dux Mea Lux, it is well worth it. CrypticRock gives this EP 4.5 of 5 stars.
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