{"id":2327,"date":"2017-09-18T18:44:18","date_gmt":"2017-09-18T18:44:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.surrealresolution.com\/?p=2327"},"modified":"2017-09-18T18:44:18","modified_gmt":"2017-09-18T18:44:18","slug":"review-myrkur-mareridt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.surrealresolution.com\/index.php\/2017\/09\/18\/review-myrkur-mareridt\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Myrkur – Mareridt"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Myrkur<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"Myrkur has been one of the biggest up-and-coming names in the black metal scene these past few years. Primarily the brainchild of Danish singer\/multi-instrumentalist Amalie Bruun, she gained attention right away after being picked up by Relapse Records in 2014 and dropping her first EP. Things picked up even more the following year with her debut full-length <\/span>M<\/em>, which became one of the most acclaimed metal records of the year, as well as her getting a choice feature on that year\u2019s Adult Swim Singles Program. As someone who\u2019s normally apathetic to black metal music, I found her debut to be surprisingly decent, mainly bolstered by its unique folk influences and great vocals. Two years later, Myrkur is back with her 2<\/span>nd<\/sup> full-length album, <\/span>Mareridt<\/em> (\u201cnightmare\u201d), and it\u2019s an album that certainly establishes a nightmarish atmosphere right from the start.<\/span><\/p>\n

The opening title track features incredibly ominous string compositions and some wailing clean vocals backed by the sounds of thunder. Right away, it creates an uneasy somber dreamscape (it helps that I first heard this album in the middle of getting hit by Hurricane Irma), and Myrkur\u2019s vocal performances\/arrangements are gorgeous in how haunting they are. Her lyrics also paint a vivid picture of being trapped in a house in the woods as dark forces creep in on her. This atmosphere gives way to the following track \u201cM\u00e5nebl\u00f4t\u201d, which swings right out of the gate with ethereal blastbeats, screeching lead guitars, and a back-and-forth mix of ear-piercing screeches and melancholic clean vocals. The strongest part of the song is the folk interlude at about a minute in, with the clattering low-key percussion and Nordic string instrumentation creating a great melody that\u2019s repeated by an ominous choir in the outro. Interestingly, the lyrics bounce back and forth between English and Nordic, creating an interesting vocal dynamic as she portrays what seems like a witch hunt from multiple perspectives. The harsh vocals proclaim \u201cFilthy whore, you deserve all that they have done to you\u201d while the clean vocals belt out \u201cin pale moonlight, we bathe in blue, the sacrifice of life born new\u201d, among other lines that are vividly grim.<\/p>\n