Ermittens Dal
Mork
When the Second Wave of Black Metal (SWOBM) was unleashed throughout Europe (especially in Norway, Sweden and Greece), a great army of bands came to unleash their fury and gain many fans. True still today, many people miss that moldy and romantic way of playing the genre. But to bring back that feeling is a very hard work for anyone. But I can tell you a thing: MORK, a one man band from Norway, made it. Listen to "Ermittens Dal" and you'll understand my words.
That essence of that sinister and aggressive atmosphere that bands as DARKTHRONE, BURZUM and MAYHEM built on the beginning of the 90s I here, untouched. But you'll find some modern influences from what we can call "Grim Black Metal" (an old label from the 90s used to define Black Metal bands with harsh way of playing). You'll find that same rusty sound on guitars, nasty shrieked voices and brutal bass and drums' work. It's the same features that you can find on albums like "The Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" and "Under a Funeral Moon", but in a particular way that is created by the MORK's musical personality.
The sound production made efforts to create a massive and raw sonority for "Ermittens Dal". The aesthetics of "non-aesthetics" cited on 2009's documentary "Until the Light Takes Us". Freddy Holm had a great trial on the mixing to create such atmosphere on the sound, but he did it. Other charms that can be heard on "Ermittens Dal" are the special appearances of Silenoz (from DIMMU BORGIR) on vocals of two songs, and Seidemann (from 1349) on some parts of bass guitar. Then, we can say that the special guests along Thomas created a very good Black Metal album that has as its finest moments songs as the nasty "Hedningens Spisse Brodder", the darkened and morbid ones "Holdere Av Fortet" and "Forsteinet I Hat", the harsh aggressiveness that flows from guitars on "Eremittens Dal", the good slow tempos of "I Hornenes Bilde" (that shows a good playing from bass guitar and drums), the traditional Black Metal scent carried by "I Enden Av Tauet", and the bitter rawness that fills "Gravøl".
What's left to say: listen to "Eremittens Dal" and have a good idea of what MORK has to offer.
8 / 10
Excellent
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Ermittens Dal" Track-listing:
1. Hedningens Spisse Brodder
2. Holdere Av Fortet
3. Forsteinet I Hat
4. Eremittens Dal
5. I Hornenes Bilde
6. Likfølget
7. Et Rike I Nord
8. I Enden Av Tauet
9. Mørkets Alter
10. Gravøl
Mork Lineup:
Thomas Eriksen - Vocals, Guitars, Bass
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