Mörk Gryning - Official Website
Maelstrom Chaos |
Sweden
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Review by Alex on November 11, 2020.
Romanian "Ice Metal" band Persekutor has released their debut full length album Permanent Winter that does a great job of merging black metal with punk and heavy metal. This is one of the more memorable releases within the sub genre that utilizes the punk metal essence in their musical temple to satisfactory effect while adding other facets of other genres.
I'm not familiar with many Romanian metal bands, and the few I know are secrets I keep close so there will be no telling here. However; at least I've introduced you to Persekutor, that I know you will treasure once you've had a listen of Permanent Winter. This will keep you "up all night"; these guys can play a tune with some good bang and they also have some cool lyrics going in the tunes. Yea according to them "it's just rock n' roll" so don't get your panties in a twist.
Permanent Winter came at the right time, just when I was looking for some punk fused heavy metal that didn't sound dated, I found Persekutor. Was sceptical at first given the wave of bands coming out with new wave metal and what not but it was their music video that was shot for the single 'Black Death Punk Skins' that was confirmation of something I might be interested in. And after countless spins I honestly say that Permanent Winter is one of the best heavy/black/punk metal albums of 2020.
All the songs are great, and they only get better with each new playthrough of the album. 'Babylon of the Snows' is perhaps the weakest song on the album but even that has its moments; but following that the lads really start to show out big time with 'Can You Feel the Frost of Dawn' and 'Winter's Meat'. It's not just your average picking and beat pacing, these guys know how to write some good tunes. They've got the ear for this kind of thing especially when you take a listen at how well they convert the basic structure of 'Can You Feel the Frost Of Dawn' into something really telling of their efforts. It's here the band stands out, each song seems to speak its own tongue, you'll never feel like it's static on repeat. Also they really know how to use the guitars and melody to their advantage especially on my favorites off Permanent Winter being 'Chained To the Tundra' (that drags the heavy metal down to some rocking mid-tempo), 'Black Death Punk Skins' (that features the catchiest rhythm and verses) and 'Arctic Cross' (that gives off some real old school doom metal vibes).
Persekutor is just an amazing band I tell you, their solos are sweet all the while fucking mean, their black metal undertone merged with the spiky punk metal fist pumps on the faster tracks and the traditional heavy metal song structures they got pinned down under their stalagmite frozen lyrics just makes for an even more enjoyable listen. Just a great record with an impending and intimidating sense of danger lingering on every note. This is what you want from a band claiming to play heavy/black/punk metal. Great riffs, solos, fantastic vocals and overall memorable tunes you and the guys can get wasted to. This is one 'Ice War' you won't forget anytime soon, it'll freeze your nuts dead cold.
Rating: 8.3 out of 10
1.31kReview by Jack on December 11, 2001.
On the promotional CD I received courtesy of No Fashion Records, Mork Gryning’s latest album “Maelstrom Chaos” is stated as being; ‘one of the most brutal and violent black metal releases ever’. This opening statement above the track listing conjured immediate thoughts of cynical optimism. Fortunately for all parties concerned this statement could not be further from the truth. “Maelstrom Chaos” is perhaps one of the most pure and mature black metal albums I have experienced this year.
Mork Gryning with this latest album capture the same sort of black metal originality and innovation that saw new black metal juggernaughts Susperia receive rave reviews for their debut masterpiece. I stupidly had “Maelstrom Chaos” pinned down as a chaotic black metal release in the vein of Belphegor or another variation of black/death hybrid band. Boy was I glad to be proved wrong!
There are segments of “Maelstrom Chaos” that seem surreal and have one thinking; ‘Eh? What is this? This is bloody good black metal!’ Yet it isn’t really strict black metal and Mork Gryning’s tunes deviate quite heavily from the standard blandness some may associate with black metal. Mork Gryning is stark contrast are the complete opposite of bland, instead invoking enjoyment and an atmosphere that is enjoyable and not of ‘brutality and violence’. “Maelstrom Chaos” not being ‘brutal and violent’ and instead possessing the fun filled factors that Finntroll and Solefald utilize for their experiments in black metal is what makes this record such a winner.
‘The Darkness Within’ contains one of the best guitar and drum signatures thus heard by me on a black metal record and blows anything Dimmu Borgir wrote on “Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia” out of the water. Yes, it is that good. As is “Maelstrom Chaos”. ‘Bloodspring Mirage’ also deserves special mention as one of the better instrumental tracks this year.
Incorporating anything and everything from all genres of metal, thrash, death, black, melancholic passages and slight hints of Viking metal magnificence, “Maelstrom Chaos” is certainly an eye-opener for me and I could not be more happy with this record, and urge all fans of metal to remove themselves from their computers and run to your local record dealer and demand a copy of it. You will not regret it.
Bottom Line: Where the hell did Mork Gryning spring forth from? “Maelstrom Chaos” is a black album of mammoth proportions and shaping up to be one of my favorites towards the end of the year.
Categorical Rating Breakdown
Originality: 8
Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Overall: 9
Rating: 8.6 out of 10