MORK GRYNING is a Black Metal band formed in Sweden in 1993, meaning "dark dawn" in English. They released five full-length albums between 1995 and 2005 and now, after fifteen years, are back with "Hinsides Verde." The album contains twelve tracks.

"The Depths of Chinnereth" leads us off...it's a brief, one-minute mood setting song. The mood is dark and ominous, as tones build in the background and there is a little chanting. It starts to swell, and segues into "Fältherren." The sound is fertile out of the gates, with charging guitars, bass, and drums, and vocal screams. But, there is melody here as well, and the guys are technically very good at their instruments. "Existence in a Dream" is another short, burst of fire, with galloping drums and some good use of harmony in the guitars. Some deeper vocals come into play here as well. There are also some harmonies in the vocals as well, and the ambient passage that develops just after the half-way mark shows that these guys are not a one-trick pony.

"Infernal" opens with fast-picked six strings and a little repeated melody from the leads. I really like the melodic passage that occupies the middle section of the song, followed by a guitar solo. "A Glimpse of the Sky" is another short burner but the opening sequence has some structure, as well as a chorus. These guys really know what they are doing when it comes to the genre boundaries. "Hinsides" is a short acoustical guitar number where the band showcases their strong sense of songwriting. It's melancholy in nature and leaves you in a state of wonder. "The Night" barrels right back to the harrowing and fast moving Black Metal sound. Some chanting around the half-way mark makes for a scary sound that can often accompany the night. "Sleeping in the Embers" is over four-minutes in length, and opens with some softer guitar parts, and a slower moving song. There is also a discernable chorus, followed by some lead guitar work that is right in line with the gentle melodies.

"For Those Departed" is another one-minute break from the earlier madness. This time, it's soft piano notes, being played by a ghost, in the rain, who refuses to leave the gravesite of her love. "Without Crown" opens with more structure than what you might expect from the genre, along with some despondent tones. It picks up pretty quickly thereafter. The melody here is very subtle, but catchy, especially when the clean vocals come in and wash away your sins. "Black Spirit" opens with some tense tones, and you can hear something in the background. Vocal chants lead to the Black Metal sound. The chants return, and this song takes on a whole different sound. "On the Elysian Fields" closes the album, with solemn but sad piano notes. For if you are in Elysian, you are already in the afterlife of paradise.

Fifteen years is a long time to wait for a comeback album, but this is it. Not only are the band fantastic musicians, but they manage to breathe new life into a genre that is often uncompromising when it comes to hardcore fans. It's Old School Black metal, but played thoughtfully and intelligently, along with harmonies and melodies that you don't often here in the genre. There are intricacies here for the listener who will take time to find them, and they are spectacular. MORK GRYINING have managed a real classic here with "Hinsides Vrede," so welcome back men!