I’d prefer to use the proper Cyrillic and Dano-Norwegian alphabets’ characters that spell the real title of this album, but you’ll have to refer to the cover artwork to see those. (For now. I’m still battling with my own web hosting technology stack to get it to show Cyrillic and Dano-Norwegian characters.)
On to the music:
What struck me first was the bright right (yet also largely monochrome) artwork.
The intro to the album starts things off with a hint of what’s to come: Something unique. Something new and old at the same time. The preservation of lost traditions is always intriguing to me. This album is off to a great start.
By the time you’re tow minutes into “Djertovna Krov”, soaring guitar harmonies have lifted you into the sky, as the album wants to lift you up. Then, it drops you into the battlefield. I love it.
Hyperspeed tremolo picking meets aggressive drums and snarling growl-vocals. This is unexpected, and for someone who listens to as much metal as I do, these surprises are very welcome. I’ve heard enough melodic black metal for a lifetime, and while I still love it, the tasteful use of dissonance should never be “forbidden” or avoided. In a world of recycled melodies, dissonance is a breath of fresh air. Morkt Tre does this combination of melody and dissonance effortlessly.
At about six minutes into the second track, the blast beats are flying as the ominous guitars and vocals loop a short-but-complex pattern of chords and leads. This is the kind of metal that reinforces my appreciation of European metal. Not since Negura Bunget and Drudkh have I heard a band that does such an expertly tasteful blend of melodic and dissonant folk-influenced black metal. Another recommendation is Czar Stengra, a band that I will feature in a later post.
Track three, “Paporoti Tsvit” reveals an opera-style vocal style that may remind some of you of the legendary Batushka, though I would not say that this band sounds much like Batushka. Morkt Tre has a sound that quickly establishes itself as different from other bands, and they are not easily described. You have to hear it for yourself, and I highly recommend listening through all of the unexpected twists and turns. This is the definition of good songwriting, in my opinion!
I’ll add more to this review as I get to know the album. For now, check it out: