Good day waveriders.
A few weeks ago I wrote a review of an EP from a band with the name Iron
Magazine. In that review I described a
song as "haunting" due to the fact that it came unbidden into my mind
on a regular basis. Today I'd like to
discuss music that is also haunting, but in a completely different manner to
what I described before. Yes, today I'd
like to highlight the latest release from Myrkur
entitled Mausoleum.
A couple of years ago a friend of mine informed me that I needed
to listen to an artist he had just discovered named Myrkur. This friend of mine
was decidedly into black metal. I
therefore believed I had a reasonable idea as to what to this new artist would
sound like. Suffice it to say, I was
wrong. What I expected was standard fare
black metal. What I actually heard was
complex music which used black metal's framework and proceeded to add multiple
layers of folk music and melodic content on top to create a wonderful,
enjoyable new sound to my ears.
Now we come to Mausoleum. This album shares songs with Myrkur's previous work, but that's
where the similarities end. Instead of
promoting harsh metallics and dissonance Mausoleum
is an incredibly intimate, ethereal experience.
In a word, this record is haunting.
It is hauntingly beautiful music.
Myrkur's voice is sublime and
otherworldly. Also, although the music
is entirely acoustic it doesn't lack for power or impact. The fact that this is a live recording inside
an actual mausoleum (hence the album title) increases my appreciation of this
recording immensely. Every vocal and
instrumental element sound flawless.
To sum up Myrkur's
Mausoleum is a stunning collection of
music that will add aural beauty anywhere it is played. Ignore the fact that these are originally
black metal songs and the lyrical content is surely rather dark. As long as you stay away from Google
Translate waveriders you will be able to blissfully enjoy these phantasmal
compositions. I'm joking of course. Do whatever you want, just make sure you
experience this extraordinary album!
-Penfold
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