Monday, August 24, 2009

Korgonthurus - Marras (2009)

Throughout the near decade of its existence, Korgonthurus has released a number of demos and EPs, but Marras is the first stab at a proper full-length. This is a project involving Corvus of the mighty Horna, and stylistically there are similarities to another Horna project, Shatraug's crushing, unforgettable Mortualia. The tones here are a bit darker and dare I say denser than that other project, but I wasn't quite as destroyed by the end.

Marras features two tracks clocking in at nearly 40 minutes, and each is a slow, simplistic piece, using repetitious and familiar riffing to lull the listener into a hopeless, meandering despair. "Marraskyyneleet" is the longer of the two tracks, over 22 minutes, and the more hypnotic. Corvus creates a bloodied, desolate snarl that meshes wonderfully with the very primal tones. The band does take a pause for some sparse, psychedelic clean tones half way through the track. "Mustan Usvan Kohdussa" is perhaps the more eerie of the songs, conjuring a wall of tones and shimmering, sorrowful riffs. The haunting, ringing chords will continue to absorb you for some time.

Korgonthurus makes the most of a barebones, honest mix. The guitars are raw and noisy but through this they convey much of the emotional power. Drums are tinny and just right, the bass does what it needs to, and Corvus creates a psychotic atmosphere whether he's using his Horna style vocals or the more talky, creepy expressions as in "Mustan Usvan Kohdussa". I'm not sure of the album's potential appeal to a wide range of black metal fans, but those that appreciate the desolate, the stripped down and penetrating, no-frills melancholy should give it a spin.

Verdict: Win [7.5/10]

http://www.korgonthurus.tk/

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