MERRIMACK - Of Grace and Gravity review

 

MERRIMACK - Of Grace and Gravity

Season of Mist

Years ago, aka: from the early 1990's to the late 2000's, MERRIMACK were the one of the better bands out of the French black metal scene. Of course that's in my not so humble opinion. Just to be clear the 2000's was an era where you had French black metal bands going avant-garde or shoe-gaze. The hipsters loved that stuff but I didn't care for it. So MERRIMACK was around playing this intense raw black metal for us fans who wanted the real deal. Of course their sound leaned more towards their Nordic neighbors.

Personally I think MERRIMACK's heyday was their time spent on Moribund Records. The short form splits they put out are collectible but their full lengths Of Entropy and Life Denial from 2006 and the amazing Grey Rigorism from 2009 are worth while. Now in 2010 a few changes were made as far as personnel. Maiman and guitarist Perversifier still held the reins of MERRIMACK since the beginning. Their bassist Daethorn came aboard in 2008. That was it for the old guard. 

Now new in 2010 included their drummer Blastum, second guitarist A.K. and new vocalist Vestal. This was the line-up which put out 2012's The Acausal Mass. I wasn't a fan of that album. Then again I didn't care for it's follow up Omegaphilia from 2017. So here we are with MERRIMACK's sixth full length and I actually like this album. It's as if the line-up has jelled together in order to put out a proper black metal release that conveys the force which their past has shown.

Of Grace and Gravity is not going to be all shock and awe as far as black metal goes. Let's face it, as far as black metal goes those wild days are long gone. So what we have these days are newbies recreating the past and older acts creating something that makes us fans feel comfortable with. On this one MERRIMACK makes me feel damm good. For the most part the songs either draw you in to an atmosphere which is cold and grim. Or they're into a blistering attack mode to tear your face off. 

In the end this latest one from the long time French BM stalwarts is damm good in it's execution. I mean every melodic note or blast beat and Vestal's callous as well as belligerent vocal style is likable after a few years. From beginning to end it's a worth while BM album for 2024. 

https://www.season-of-mist.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://merrimack.bandcamp.com/album/of-grace-and-gravity