Year Of Release - 2001
Label - Maquiavel Records

Tracklist:
1. Breathe In
2. Mother Pandora
3. Architecture
4. Most Arrogant Life Form
5. Yet Another Armageddon
6. Gambit
7. Midnight Crisis
8. Pied Piper
9. Missa Solemnis
10. Breathe Out

Lux Occulta were always going to find it difficult to top the jaw-dropping classic that was "My Guardian Anger." This Polish band's 1999 release is one of my all time favourite albums and I was looking forward to its follow up with eager anticipation.

"The Mother and The Enemy" is a bold and often times adventurous outing by Lux Occulta. They have well and truly transcended genre classifications and now reside somewhere in the metal world that I am unable to describe properly.

The album opens with the electronic "Breathe In." At 54 seconds it is slow and moody and does a reasonable job of setting the mood. The first proper song though, "Mother Pandora" is a whole different matter. Guitar riffs that sound like Coroner, weird electronic noises, Jaro Slav's trademark raspy vocals all combine to make "Mother Pandora" one of the better songs that the band has ever written. The absolutely jaw dropping wizardry that is "Architecture" will either have you gasping in delight or will make you want to break a few things on the band's head. Mixing elements of electronic music and Jazz into their standard framework of extreme metal proved to be a brilliant idea with "Architecture." The ending with the blast beat section yet again emphasizes the musical schizophrenia inherent in this song and quite probably in this band as well.

It is however the middle of the album that is the most challenging and adventurous. "Yet Another Armageddon", "Gambit" and "Midnight Crisis" are the album within the album. "Yet Another Armageddon" is sublime in its laid back groove and smooth as silk female vocals. Jazzy with an undercurrent of modern electronica. Almost like a laid back Lamb or Portishead. The band has definitely pushed the envelope here. "Gambit" on the other hand is a tired sounding pseudo industrial song that is excessively long. It starts with some promise but ends tamely and is the most disappointing song on the album. "Midnight Crisis" is similar to "Yet another Armageddon" in style but is perhaps too long and a little too content in its laid back approach. The female vocals on this song are very good. Unfortunately the music is more than a little boring.

Moving back to the album proper, "Pied Piper" and "Missa Solemnis" both vie for the "Best Song On The Album" award. Long compositions both,elemants of death metal, thrash and symphonic black metal along with jazzy interludes, spoken word segments and some jaw dropping technicality.Album closer "Breathe Out" round things off nicely with another laid back groove and drum and bass combo over female vocals.

Lux Occulta must be commended for pushing the envelope with "The Mother And The Enemy." Perhaps too adventurous and experimental for some but still a very worthwhile listen. Listen to this album if only for "Architecture", "Yet Another Armageddon", "Missa Solemnis", "Pied Piper" and "Breathe Out."