【Perplexed_Sjel】It would appear that the majority of this Belgian outfits full-lengths are incredibly similar in almost every aspect. I thoroughly enjoyed 'Lycanthropic Hymns' but it seemed to me, to be a bit of a worship act to the old school sound black metal has just shaken off. Considering the fact that Lycanthropy's Spell are a band that have issued all of their material in to the world during the 21st century, well, I would have expected perhaps a more modern touch. 'Misanthropic Hymns' is simply a continuation of where the debut left off.One thing you cannot say Lycanthropy's Spell do not have is a distinctive sound. Despite the fact that it seems to be imitation metal, it still sounds unique to the Belgian band. Darkthrone's earliest black metal recordings were something I likened Lycanthropy's Spell to. Their material is much like that of Darkthrone's old material, but with it's own twist. I'd say the production is better. That buzzing sound quality still exists, yes, but it's not as prominent to the music as it was for Darkthrone.The Norwegian outfit used a poor sound to enhance the atmospheric nature of their music. It was in order to allow the audience to grasp how cold and distant black metal should be. The distortion of the guitars is where the majority of Lycanthropy's Spell get their lo-fi sound from. Distortion is a top priority for this Belgian band. It's what sets their music apart from everyone else because it sounds specific to them and contains qualities you'd only associate to the band.However, I tend to feel it's where the electric acoustic parts come it that the band really excels. They add a sad and sorrowful quality to the atmosphere, which already sounded littered with negative emotions. The emotive side is an enjoyable aspect of this full-length. It's what makes it different from the rest, what gives it that special quality. The reference to Darkthrone is undeniable. The difference between this and what Darkthrone created is that Lycanthropy's Spell actually manage to pull it off. It's that simple.This sound is by far more fitting to the Belgian act than it ever was to the Norwegian legends. Even though the distortion of the guitars can sound quite flat at times, Lycanthropy's Spell still manage to maintain the interest of the audience. Their intriguing approach is all part of the appeal. The way they can switch from the desolate sounds of the acoustic sections, to the misanthropic assault of the highly distorted riffs. The switch in pace is also something I quite enjoyed. Slow, mid and fast paced music is all available. Dynamism is added to the fray with the use of instrumentals too.There are occasions, 'Spokoynaya Noch' for example, when the mood isn't as high as it was before. Songs like this are lacking. The introduction of clean vocals is a nice touch and the repetition of their music, whether that be in the form of the lead guitars or the percussion, is nice. However, there are a few moments when you'd just wish that Lycanthropy's Spell continued with the brilliantly violent spells of 'Cemetery Lights' or the dazzling acoustics of the title track. For the most part, this is a very decent offering.