Shame on me, I admit it, but the fact Norwegians Mortem are actually an all-star band, caught me by surprise. Some sources speculate Mortem was actually the rudimentary version of Arcturus, and it is indeed a fact that Arcturus’ keyboardist Steinar Johnsen plays on keyboards as well as on guitars in Mortem. The other band members are Marius Vold (ex-Arcturus, ex-Thorns) on vocals, bassist Tor Stavenes (1349) and none other than Hellhammer on drums. See?
The initial incarnation of the band only released one demo in 1989, before coming back to life in 2019 with its full length debut Ravnsvart. Seven years later, Mørketid came out last Friday and offers a very solid take on melodic, atmospheric, mid-tempo black metal, not too far away in spirit from early Dimmu Borgir and Old Man’s Child.
Songs like the title track or Skyggeånd are really rich in texture and epic, frost-bitten soundscapes, with the keyboards especially bringing to mind why we liked Enthrone Darkness Triumphant so much. Just listen to Aftermath and you will instantly agree with me. The musicianship of these guys is undeniable and even if there is nothing particularly innovative or striking to find in these songs, they are executed masterfully and with an authentic old-school attitude.
Mørketid is an album that almost surely will please every old-school fan of the more melodic, keyboard-infused take on Scandinavian black metal, so if you still have those old patches on your vest, check this stuff out.
8/10
Mørketid is out now and can be ordered from HERE
