Mork
Katedralen


3.5
great

Review

by Robert Garland STAFF
March 10th, 2021 | 94 replies


Release Date: 2021 | Tracklist

Review Summary: I want to Mork.

Sometimes I do get a quiet moment to myself. In these instances I find myself sitting in my study, sipping my nightly wine—reclined in the gentle embrace of a well-worn armchair, but I never feel quite at ease, ever. You see, for those that do not know, my mind is constantly busy. Whether it’s the tumults of life, the frantic rush of work or the insane self paranoia that I’ve somehow (even after checking it thrice) left the fucking oven on. Still, there are some comforts to be had, especially in regards to my music addiction. In typical fashion, I’ve been on a hunt for quality black metal to usher in the new year, but I’ve come up somewhat short or distracted by the endless onslaught of releases that are constantly added to my library. I guess that last part is my fault. I don’t have to listen to every single metal album, follow every single Bandcamp link or digest every monolithic doom record. As such, it’s taken until the third month of 2021 to offer up an undeniably enjoyable black metal record without gimmickry.

That’s mostly because Mork’s fifth album is a testament to an era of prestige among the black metal genre. Mentions of fellow countrymen Darkthrone and Mayhem come quite naturally for Mork mastermind, Thomas Eriksen, for the act doesn’t hide under a host of trend-hugging, nor is there an effort to force innovation. Rather, Mork’s corpse paint lives on through the use of simple black metal aesthetic, high production values and slight modernism within the band’s more traditional soundscapes. Now that probably sounds like a contradiction of sorts, but for a style within a genre so Hell-bent on staying “trve”, “raw” and “underground” albums like Katedralen are able to get ahead of the acts that take pride in their tin-can, unintelligible productions. While I understand that this may be a particular turn off for that elitist crowd (you know, the type of fans that have early 90s cult cassettes jammed sideways up their back passages) it doesn’t take away from the fact that Mork’s Katedralen riffs with the best of them, while providing a clearer, more accessible soundscape.

The comparisons to the likes of Darkthrone seep through the opening “Dødsmarsjen” and bleed well into “Svartmalt” (made even more obvious since Nocturno Culto’s distinct growls actually feature here) while “Arv” becomes particularly angular. Riffs surge around authentic black metal snarls and lunging percussive progressions, taking that all important aesthetic mentioned earlier and polishing it with a clear, refined production. The vocals become wrapped in grandeur, providing a sense of melody while maintaining both storytelling and blackened grit. Eriksen takes the tried and trve fundamentals of the genre’s stereotypes and blends them into a sonic landscape that is as much a sum of its parts as it is individual. If not for the Kampfar laden feature on “Født Til Å Herske” or the doom filled closer, courtesy of Skepticism’s very own Eero Pöyry who provides a new depth to which Eriksen pushes on the staple of his sound, Mork would fall into the trappings of style consistency, lacking the basic contrast that would define an otherwise interesting listen—but I’m getting ahead of myself.

“Evig Intens Smerte” is a vicious sonic assault that hearkens to the punk-filled Darkthrone days while ringing dissonant melody soars over a blasting assault of riffs and snare. It’s like Mork somehow got hold of the Darkthrone playbook, took the bits that Eriksen liked (just about all of it) and yet, kept a modern sound that lightly pushes at the black metal box they play in. In similar fashion, “Født Til Å Herske” snakes into the fray, but it’s the mid-paced tempo that helps the album stay accessible. Here, like many other sections, Mork’s 2021 album swaps all out blistering instrumental passages with head-bangable groove. With this in mind it’s no wonder that Katedralen is stronger in its second half. Some of the record’s best riffs feature on “Lysbæreren” while a sombre tone is assured in the closing “De Fortapte Sjelers Katedral” courtesy of organ and dirge like progressions where Skepticism’s Eero melds a doomy atmosphere into Mork’s polished black metal landscape.

For what it’s worth, we metalheads give a lot of flack to groups who tread both the paths already trodden and those that try something new. Despite how jaded consumers of music have become in recent years, there’s still something of worth in recreating the influences of old. Mork may be guilty of taking the Darkthrone schtick into the new era, but it’s a style done convincingly well. Hell, even I’m guilty of perpetuating the same ideals I’ve brought up—and yet I’ve still found a more than solid black metal release in the year’s first quarter; the corpse paint comes mandatory.



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user ratings (45)
3.5
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
March 10th 2021


18279 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Listen to the goodies here:



https://peaceville.bandcamp.com/album/katedralen

Koris
Staff Reviewer
March 10th 2021


22050 Comments


Nice review! Not a huge black metal fan, but I'll see if this suits my fancy

"You see, for those that do not know, my mind is constantly busy. Whether it’s the tumults of life, the frantic rush of work or the insane self paranoia that I’ve somehow (even after checking it thrice) left the ***ing oven on."

This is way too goddamn relatable, lol

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
March 10th 2021


32209 Comments


Sweet, sweet rev Noct.

It's a Darkthrone... I was gonna say rip off but that may be too agressive since they actually got the man to do vocals, so I guess they are blessed! But yeah, enjoyable for what it is.

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
March 10th 2021


18279 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Well...as far as rip-offs go, this is pretty good. Maybe a reverse feature will be due on a new Darkthrone?

MiloRuggles
Staff Reviewer
March 10th 2021


3160 Comments


Morking some wine down my gullet rn, feels metal mang

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
March 10th 2021


18279 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Spey River babe.

AsleepInTheBack
Staff Reviewer
March 10th 2021


10465 Comments


that summary tho

mwah

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
March 10th 2021


18279 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Hoping to strike a chord with those that know. Also, where's Garas at?

DoofDoof
March 10th 2021


16114 Comments


Morkcore

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
March 10th 2021


18279 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Morkthrone.

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
March 10th 2021


6217 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Love me some Darkthrone, will have to check this. Great review as well!

dedex
Staff Reviewer
March 10th 2021


12835 Comments


cool summary, cool review, bet the riffs are cool too

garas
Staff Reviewer
March 10th 2021


8203 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Not having papa Mortiis in “Født Til Å Herske” was such a missed opportunity!



"there’s still something of worth in recreating the influences of old"

Of course it worths it. Old-school maniacs like me will never get tired of this, haha.



'twas a great read, and I can also confirm this album slaps.

TheNotrap
Staff Reviewer
March 10th 2021


19070 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Nice writing Nocte mate. This sounds like something that takes us back to the early nineties.

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
March 10th 2021


6217 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Just finished my first listen, this is excellent. Thanks for the find, Nocte!

hel9000
March 10th 2021


1602 Comments


Ooh this sounds neat, nice review nocte

bloc
March 10th 2021


70694 Comments


Where's Mindy at

Sowing
Moderator
March 10th 2021


44625 Comments


Great review. Loved the intro in particular.

DDDeftoneDDD
March 10th 2021


22864 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

hum will check

Azog
March 10th 2021


1070 Comments


Morking out their bandcamp as we speak, and I like what I'm hearing.



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