This is the eighth album from Norwegian black metal solo act Mork.
This is old-school Norwegian black metal, played by a musician that knows the style inside out. He’s aided on Monolitt by a drummer and additional vocalist; so combined, Monolitt is an easily enjoyable listen for fans of classic black metal. The latest Mork album has arrived, fully formed and ready to assert its dominance. Does it have the power to?
Overall, yes it does. Monolitt is a keeper.
The frozen riffs and icy atmospheres are deep and authentic. Monolitt delivers a classic journey into darkness, while still offering up a record that feels fresher than it probably should. The songwriting is tight and allows for variety around the core theme; the artist behind Mork as crafted a record that takes the style’s strengths and bolsters them with a real ear for a good riff.
These riffs are one of the defining features of Monolitt. Interestingly, although deeply blackened, other influences can be heard too – heavy metal, and a touch of doom. This allows for a greater diversity of guitar parts, and for the bleeding of warmer colours into the cold black heart of the music. Infecting some of the riffs and melodies, they merge with the music’s blackened core at a cellular level.
As for the melodies, these are not Mork’s driving force, but they’re skilfully incorporated into the whole, regardless. Sometimes epic, sometimes dramatic, sometimes despondent; whatever use is made of melody, it’s impactful. Clean singing is used strategically too, and very well.
Monolitt is a strong, enjoyable record. It strikes a good balance between traditional blackened hostility, dark atmospheric immersion, and stadium-friendly songcraft. In this way, whether experiencing these songs in an energetic live environment, or wrapped up tightly in the biting winds, Monolitt has much to offer. It’s a compelling mix of the accessible and rawer sides of the style. It skews to the former for sure, but the latter remains part of the record’s appeal.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 