Merrimack - The Acausal Mass
Merrimack is one of those bands who for the recent years has settled into a certain pattern of Black Metal. Following the more 'Orthodox Black Metal' acts like recent Marduk, Glorior Belli, Funeral Mist, and Deathspell Omega, Merrimack creates a ferocious output of raw, yet phiosophical music that shares the best of both Kvlt and Avant-garde sub genres. On the downside, Merrimack also creates a somewhat watered down output of twisted Black Metal. Unlike their counterparts who recently attempted at something new or different with their works, Merrimack's 'The Acausal Mass' stays on the same level picking up where 'Grey Rigorism' has left off. Also, to some fan dismay, the band has also adopted a vocal and musical style that sounds EXACTLY like Marduk/ Funeral Mist does. The riff patterns, vocal arrangements, and moments of dark melody are completely identical to the recent unleashing of 'Serpent Sermon' by Marduk earlier in 2012. If fans love that kind of sound, then it will be like having another clone of the album. If listeners are seeking a more diverse route... then perhaps Merrimack isn't the best way to go.
Still, as far as putting out 'quality' Black Metal on its own, without comparisons, Merrimack does quite a good job. The music is heavy, but not overly fast, such as on "Gospel Of The Void." "Worms does a good job at going back and forth betwen almost funeral slow passages and the faster sections, creating a very dark atmosphere overall. "Abortion" has great rhythms to them, though after a while it seems like everything Merrimack does is based on rhythms and riffs over and over with little room for a moment of grand technicality from the guitar solos. Granted, perhaps 'The Acasual Mass' is a more mid paced Black Metal effort overall for new listeners to sink into without feeling dragged down or overwhelmed compared to when looking into other bands, but the average Black Metal listener has generally heard one of the big four listed between Deathspell Omega, Marduk, Glorior Belli, and Funeral Mist, and will probably pass of the album as just an attempt to clone a style that was unique the moment it entered the realm of the Black Metal genre, but won't leave that way.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/v/7jN7m-rgpZg[/embed]
Still, as far as putting out 'quality' Black Metal on its own, without comparisons, Merrimack does quite a good job. The music is heavy, but not overly fast, such as on "Gospel Of The Void." "Worms does a good job at going back and forth betwen almost funeral slow passages and the faster sections, creating a very dark atmosphere overall. "Abortion" has great rhythms to them, though after a while it seems like everything Merrimack does is based on rhythms and riffs over and over with little room for a moment of grand technicality from the guitar solos. Granted, perhaps 'The Acasual Mass' is a more mid paced Black Metal effort overall for new listeners to sink into without feeling dragged down or overwhelmed compared to when looking into other bands, but the average Black Metal listener has generally heard one of the big four listed between Deathspell Omega, Marduk, Glorior Belli, and Funeral Mist, and will probably pass of the album as just an attempt to clone a style that was unique the moment it entered the realm of the Black Metal genre, but won't leave that way.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/v/7jN7m-rgpZg[/embed]
- Intro- Vestals Of Descending Light
- Arousing Wombs In Nine Angels Pleroma
- Gospel Of The Void
- Beati Estis Cum Maledixirint Vobis
- Hypophanie
- Obstetrics Of Devourment
- Worms In The Divine Intestine
- Abortion Light
- Liminal Matter Corruption
Label: http://www.afm-records.de
Reviewer: Colin McNamara
Sep 5, 2012
Sep 5, 2012
Next review:
Herfst - The Deathcult Pt. 1: An Oath In Darkness
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