This is the second album from blackened thrash metallers Tyrannus.
Tyrannus play a mix of black and thrash metal, alongside other influences, and it hits the spot. On Mournhold they combine it all into a 40-minute infernal assault that this simplistic description doesn’t really do justice to. Brought to us by current/ex-members of Ashenspire and Live Burial, Mournhold is a beast.
In some ways you could quite happily call this extreme metal and be done for the day. That’s not really that descriptive of what Tyrannus get up to though. More accurate would be blackened thrash or blackthrash. However, this misses out the other elements in the band’s sound that appear here and there – post-punk in the song Flesh Eternal as a specific example, and rich atmosphere, more generally. Of course, the latter can be seen as an extension of the band’s black metal heart, but it’s still worth noting separately. Another way of thinking about Mournhold is that it’s a mix of first and second wave black metal. The thrashier 80s side is augmented by an injection of the darker atmospheres that would come later. All of which is to say that a few different ingredients have gone into the making of Mournhold.
However you think of Mournhold, just make sure that you do. This record delivers a feast of blackened darkness. From crunchy riffs to wailing solos to blasting intensity to textured grandeur to snarled vocal hooks, and more, Tyrannus have produced a record worthy of your attention.
The songs blend their influences well, bringing together black metal’s aggressive foundation, thrash metal’s jagged energy, and an atmospheric richness that’s highly immersive. The latter is one of the most striking parts of Mournhold, actually. Whether it’s a lone lead guitar or a fully-fleshed out section of evocative worldbuilding, Tyrannus are very adept at incorporating atmospheric and feeling-focused components into their songs.
Of course, the more traditional blackthrash doesn’t let the side down either. Barbed, spiked, and ready to destroy, the songs are hostile and unfriendly, while also making good use of melody and dynamics. No matter how dark and furious things become, the songs cannot escape their mood-based components though, and nor should they. These elevate Mournhold‘s material, allowing Tyrannus to transcend mere blackthrash, (which can easily become one-dimensional), keeping its essence, while imbuing it with a heady dose of atmospheric black metal to bring up the musical experience of the listener overall.
It’s a diverse album within the above – Tyrannus spread out their musical ingredients, focusing on one aspect or another in different places, or de-emphasising them in others. Reignfall is a good example, as it’s essentially a thrash metal song, absent most of the band’s other influences. Standout track Seizing Stars on the other hand is a masterful mix of everything, and is possibly the strongest song out of the lot of them.
Tyrannus have impressed. Blackthrash typically offers more style than substance, but Mournhold has both, largely because it doesn’t limit itself to the standard blackthrash template. Amidst the cutting riffs and blackened venom there are dark depths to be explored. This is a great record. All hail Tyrannus!
Essential listening.
Wonderbox Metal 