Album
Type : Full
Length
Date
Released : 24/2/2014
Label
: Century
Media Records
Sweven,
album track listing :
01.
Berceuse (03:18)
02.
Chains (04:49)
03.
Towards A Dark Sky (07:49)
04.
Aurora In The Offing (05:01)
05.
It Stretches In The Hollow (05:10)
06.
Ripening Life (06:46)
07.
The Perennial Link (05:16)
08.
Solace (02:14)
09.
Beyond Life's Sealed Abode (05:41)
10.
Terminus (06:38)
Bio
:
As
‘Sweven’ is now about to be unleashed upon the world, Morbus
Chron has carved out their very
own
territory of unorthodox death metal. They have gone far beyond their
raw and simple initial
style,
adding many uncanny acoustic parts to create a nightmare world of
utter horror. Together
with
producer Fred Estby (ex- Dismember), the band has found a warm, yet
haunting sound to go
with
their vision. The resulting soundscapes spread out like a wasteland
of death and terror, sending
chills
down the hardest of spines. Guitar and drum patterns flow in various
directions, building
cathedrals
of darkness in which Robert's tormented vocals echo in agony.
Morbus
Chron's evolution is probably even more obvious when it comes to the
lyrical themes and the
artwork.
The entire presentation is constructed as an entity, where all of the
songs are linked
together
in an overall concept of desperation and despair. In addition,
renowned psychedelic artist
Raul
Gonzales has provided 11 individual paintings for the wonderful
packaging. His dreamy, yet
uncanny
visuals add to the overall impression of a fully accomplished work of
pure art - the band’s
progression
since their gore-drenched early days is unparalleled.
While
many metal bands claim to be breaking new ground these days, Morbus
Chron is one of the
few
who really is. Musically, as well as artistically, they are miles
ahead of most of the competition,
and
they are definitely among the bands that make extreme metal matter
again. There's a new
stench
of death rising on the horizon...
Smell
the coffin.
/Daniel
Ekeroth
The
Band :
Adam
Lindmark | Drums
Edvin
Aftonfalk | Lead guitars, Vocals
Robert
Andersson | Lead Vocals, Guitars
Dag
Landin | Bass
Review
:
The
second full length from Sweden's Morbus Chron sees the one time death
metallers expand their sound further. Not for them, the pro-tools
perfection and hyper speed of much of modern metal. Instead, what
reveals itself here is a much more angular listen- progressive (but
not like Cynic or Opeth), dour and downbeat and rather necro in
sound. Berceuse
sets the mood with atmospherics before Chains
shows an impressive breadth of sound over its nigh on five minutes of
playing time. The riffing is heavy and also textured the breaks
mellow and wistful, the vibe melancholic.
Towards
a Dark Sky
follows with more textures and some faster sections coupled with some
rather odd riffing and an almost jazzy feel at times. The whole thing
is just...organic. Some sections are reminiscent of latter day Death,
but don't take that as a comparison or reference point. Traditional
death/prog metal this most definitely is not.
Aurora
In The Offing
starts slow with a kind of Floridian tone to the riffs, but mixed
with a uniquely Scandinavian feel that brings in a thrash section of
some oddness with howled vocals and ringing riffs. There are some
excellent passages of guitar interplay around the two minute mark as
the band deftly handles the changes. The solos are killer too, and
the track is one of the more straight “metal” pieces on the
record. It
Stretches in the Hollow
is more restrained to begin with as clean and creepy guitars set up
some stop/start lines. The band then spreads their wings impressively
with some progressive passages and more excellent guitar interplay.
Ripening
Life
is a discordant romp that uses straight time signatures with riffs
that are anything but. The
Perrenial Link may
feel epic in places but is tightly written and focused in structure.
Lesser bands may be tempted to stretch the panoramic riffing to ten
minutes plus, but Morbus Chron keep it controlled with sludge pacing
and dark vibes aplenty. A clean build up section is also included and
marks an agreeable bit of respite from the claustrophobic darkness-
until it closes in again, of course.
Solace
acts as an instrumental bridge, effectively so, before the
progressive and penultimate Beyond
Life's Sealed Abode.
Again, this is heavy but not aggressive stuff with weaved guitars and
live/boxy drums. The vocals take a couple of minutes to come in, and
when they do there is more jazziness in the guitar approach to be
had. Terminus
(sadly not a tribute to the 90's Kent also-rans of the same name) is
a more exploratory offering from the band as they experiment with
dynamics and halting sections.
Hard
to categorise, Morbus Chron have created something unique in the
metal world. It is certainly progressive, certainly dark and
melancholic and certainly unusual. To really understand it, though,
you will have to hear it yourself.
Words
by :
Richard Maw
You
can buy it here
Fore
more information :
