MORBIKON - Ov Mournful Twilight
Tankcrimes
What we have here is the latest side project from Phil Landphil Hall most notable as the bassist for the thrash metal band MUNICIPAL WASTE. Of course if you're into extreme metal then you also know that Phil is involved in the death metal homage side project CANNABIS CORPSE.
I'm not going to get into the latest MUNICIPAL WASTE yet. I'm still blasting it and that release can wait a week or two. But as far as CANNABIS CORPSE is concerned I like all of their albums and fuck people who worship BLOODBATH. Oh am I offending the Swedes and incensed mainstream metal people? Pardon me, but hey go listen to VALLENFYRE instead. But anyways CANNABIS CORPSE rules.
So this is Phil's take on second wave Scandinavian black metal. He handles guitar and bass work on here. But along for the ride he's recruited his MUNICIPAL WASTE band-mate, Dave Witte, on drums. Witte is a perfect choice since he's one of the most versatile and accomplished drummers in metal. I mean look at his resume as well as his playing in bands of various genre styles. Add to that on vocals Phil has enlisted Finland's Matthias "Vieth" Lillmåns of FINNTROLL. Also credited for vocals is Quotidius.
OK so musically it's really not second wave BM. I'm hearing more late 90's, when the second wave was over, Swedish influenced BM. Maybe DARK FUNERAL minus the huge use of keyboards. It's a sound and style which was more accessible to mainstream metal fans back then. Overall it's a good recreation. That's not a negative rub by any means.
I like the harsh screamed vocals, Witte is superb on drums. But the highlight on here is Phil Landphil Hall's guitar work. I mean his riffs on here (plus the guitar tone) are really cold, cruel and electrifying. Then he'll toss in some straight up metal soloing which surpasses the original genre sound. Of course he keeps with the whole tremolo picked standard as well.
This debut release is eight song's worth. At first I was on the fence about this one. Mainly because I'm a big black metal fan and also weary of new bands recreating the past. Plus you've got modern production which can take away from the dark atmosphere this type of music is supposed to a trademark of.
But after few listens and recognizing some of the folk song structures (hello FINNTROLL influence) added in. I was like, this is a great fuckin album. Hell I wish it was snowing outside. Obviously Phil is showing us all in metal fandom that he can do it all.
He knows thrash and death metal. Add to that with IRON REAGAN he knows old 80's hardcore. Albeit kind of an easy feat but anyways. And now he's doing black metal which sounds pretty fuckin cool. The future of this latest musical project of his looks interesting. But hell yeah this stuff is great.
LISTEN HERE:
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