By: Charlie Butler
Album
Type: Full Length
Date Released:
17/03/2017
Label: Independent
Imagine
a combination of Yob’s epic psychedelic doom and Sumac’s post-metal infused
noise rock and you get an idea of the crushing cacophony the band conjure up
here. “Ectopic” is a huge final statement from Mursa
that demonstrates they had the power to go toe-to-toe with the worlds doom elite.
“Ectopic”
DD track listing:
1). Ectopic
2). Crass Life
3). The Worming,
Pt. II
The Review:
Portland heavyweights Mursa have already passed on to
riff Valhalla ahead of the release of their new album “Ectopic”. It is fortunate they managed to commit these final
tracks to tape before their demise but it is a tragedy they will not be able to
capitalise on their impact on the heavy underground.
The bulk of “Ectopic” is
taken up by the monstrous twenty minute title track. In between the sweetly
ominous opening chords and the squall of white noise that brings proceedings to
a close, Mursa embark on a compelling journey through a warped riffscape.
Imagine a combination of Yob’s epic psychedelic doom and Sumac’s post-metal
infused noise rock and you get an idea of the crushing cacophony the band
conjure up here. Vocals are deployed sparingly to great effect but for the most
part Mursa let the riffs do the talking, either in the form of sweeping
slow-motion doom or relentless, razor-edged locked grooves. As the track
reaches its climax, the band hone in on one particularly punishing riff and
ride it for all it’s worth, grinding the tempo slower and slower as waves of
harsh static engulf everything in their wake.
“Crass Life” is a brief
acoustic interlude that allows the dust to settle before Mursa launch into the “The Worming, Pt. II”. The majority of
the track finds the band focused on the doomier end of the spectrum to create
an atmospheric world of lumbering riffs and dark melody. Events take a left
turn when an icy blast of feral black metal shatters the mood and leads into an
intense pummelling finale.
“Ectopic” is a huge
final statement from Mursa that demonstrates they had
the power to go toe-to-toe with the worlds doom elite. This release is
currently available as a name your price download on bandcamp so let this slab
of otherworldly heaviness into your world right now.
“Ectopic” is available here
