Norwegian black metal pioneers Mortem helped shape the infamous black metal’s second wave and now the release of “Mørketid” marks a strong comeback evidently driven by obscure forces.
The title track celebrates endless darkness with intense rhythmic fury yet the faster venomous guitars must slow down to put the spotlight on the baroque keyboards generating a bewitching melodic flow.
“The Mighty Odious” celebrates the early sound of Scandinavian black metal with soaring guitar riffs and ravenous growls while solemn keyboards arise from shadowy depths to emphasize a brooding classical flair.
“Skyggeånd” conveys nightmarish vibes often demanding hyper speed and the ominous guitar progressions accompanied by ghastly multilayered keyboards ultimately lead to a cryptic atmospheric momentum.
The towering rhythmic section on “Ditt Ødes Ære” proudly channels hostile traditional black metal roots while the mighty combo of guitars and keyboards spontaneously craft sinister melodic passages culminating with a savage solo.
Throughout “Mørkets Ormebol” opulent keyboards maintain a crucial role creating eerie atmospheric tapestries around the main malevolent rhythmic core effortlessly fueled by menacing riffage and monochromatic tonalities.
Originally known as the Norwegian cult band which preceded Arcturus, Mortem brings to life the original incarnation of epic black metal through the labyrinthic frostbitten soundscapes of “Mørketid”.