Molog - Tri
Molog are a relatively new black metal band from Australia that take a somewhat melodic approach to the lo fi style of typical black metal. Combining elements heard from groups like Mgla or raw groups like Moon, there is certainly a depressive atmosphere surrounding the band’s debut album “Tri.” It is a fast album, churning out a rather standard black metal sound on tracks like ‘Negative Motivations’ and ‘Abandoned.’ Using a bit of mystery with the member’s names and various initials or monikers, the history of the band seems as shrouded as the riffs they perform with a raw, fast lo fi sound combined with raw grating vocals. The one big highlight the Molog have going for them right out the gate is they don’t bury their drums, making the loud thumping a staple sound to go with the more seamless riffs that wail on and on in their depressive tones. It doesn’t exactly grab listeners at first, but rather draws them in more towards the middle of the album where more interesting stuff is heard.
‘Ghost Relict’ really takes things up a notch with its inclusion of piano. It is such a different clean tone that takes away from the rawness of the music, but sad at the same time it really ups the ante for the depressive factor. It is little disappointing that Molog doesn’t use this more throughout their music which really would have shed away their more ‘everyday black metal’ skin, but this little bit alone makes it one of the best tracks on the album. Very similar to the way Naglfar closed their more melodic album “Harvest,” it sticks with the listener long after the track is over. Throughout the rest of the album Molog try other ways to keep the depressive factor going and prevent the buzz saw riffs from becoming too boring such as echoing tortured vocals on ‘Wasting Away’ or ‘Juvenile Curse,’ but it doesn’t have the same effect that the piano does on ‘Ghost Relict.’ Still, Molog take a frightening tone to their music that will appeal to fans of the raw side of depressive black metal. Think a shorter version of Judas Iscariot.
Thankfully, “Tri” closes on ‘Forest Suicide’ which houses a simple drum outro, but very funeral toned so it draws attention very much in the same way the piano outro from the earlier track does. There is a bit more melody in the guitars to keep up with the depressive elements but the pace is still pretty quick and in the vein of typical black metal. And suddenly the album is over. 32 minutes seems a bit quick for black metal although maybe it is just the six tracks that seem short, but with each one spanning about five minutes it still is an enjoyable ride. Will listeners possibly be left wanting more? Absolutely. Just from the little atmospheric bits the group includes, that should be enough to have one spin “Tri” a few more times rather than feel this is a ‘one and done’ album. True, the majority of black metal on the album feels a little ‘been there, done that,’ but with hundreds of artists churning out similar material one could not expect Molog to bring something revolutionary to the table. Still, if one wants to get away from the speed black or black n roll side of the genre, then “Tri” is worth checking out for the mid paced, depressive tinged music that doesn’t include vocals that are too unnerving, but still terrifically frightening.
3 / 5 STARS
[embed]
‘Ghost Relict’ really takes things up a notch with its inclusion of piano. It is such a different clean tone that takes away from the rawness of the music, but sad at the same time it really ups the ante for the depressive factor. It is little disappointing that Molog doesn’t use this more throughout their music which really would have shed away their more ‘everyday black metal’ skin, but this little bit alone makes it one of the best tracks on the album. Very similar to the way Naglfar closed their more melodic album “Harvest,” it sticks with the listener long after the track is over. Throughout the rest of the album Molog try other ways to keep the depressive factor going and prevent the buzz saw riffs from becoming too boring such as echoing tortured vocals on ‘Wasting Away’ or ‘Juvenile Curse,’ but it doesn’t have the same effect that the piano does on ‘Ghost Relict.’ Still, Molog take a frightening tone to their music that will appeal to fans of the raw side of depressive black metal. Think a shorter version of Judas Iscariot.
Thankfully, “Tri” closes on ‘Forest Suicide’ which houses a simple drum outro, but very funeral toned so it draws attention very much in the same way the piano outro from the earlier track does. There is a bit more melody in the guitars to keep up with the depressive elements but the pace is still pretty quick and in the vein of typical black metal. And suddenly the album is over. 32 minutes seems a bit quick for black metal although maybe it is just the six tracks that seem short, but with each one spanning about five minutes it still is an enjoyable ride. Will listeners possibly be left wanting more? Absolutely. Just from the little atmospheric bits the group includes, that should be enough to have one spin “Tri” a few more times rather than feel this is a ‘one and done’ album. True, the majority of black metal on the album feels a little ‘been there, done that,’ but with hundreds of artists churning out similar material one could not expect Molog to bring something revolutionary to the table. Still, if one wants to get away from the speed black or black n roll side of the genre, then “Tri” is worth checking out for the mid paced, depressive tinged music that doesn’t include vocals that are too unnerving, but still terrifically frightening.
3 / 5 STARS
[embed]