ALBUM REVIEW: Mephorash – Krystl-AH

Sweden’s legendary Black Metal ghouls MEPHORASH return with their 5th album on November 10th via Shadow Records.

Ominous chanting and percussion begins our descent, with a majestic aura enshrouding these opening soundscapes. Powerful vocals soak the reverberate guitars in a sinister sense of furore while the entire cascading soundscapes retains its ethereal and yet malicious quality. These opening moments secure the vibrant and impassioned spectacle that one could expect from Mephorash is indeed as expected. Melodies in the lead guitars and cymbal work add a glistening quality to the music that yields some excellent dynamics with those darker riffs and lurking orchestrations. Aside from the more obviously malignant and otherworldly spirits seeping into the record, there is an unmistakable sense of triumph and victory in their songwriting which opens the more epic end of the metallic spectrum. In the context of Black Metal such as this, working superbly. The latest Misthyrming did something similar (although in a sonically very different fashion) and it has worked for both bands marvellously. A bewitching and dreamlike opening to Mephorash’s latest opening that will have you hooked.

Through serpentine passages of darkness and despair, we hear so many evocative moments of emotional and spiritual clarity. There are these howling abysses of sound that transcend into powerful, nay cinematic sonic spells which are cast upon us with glee. As unique as they are, there is a familiar, if disquieting, quality to Mephorash’s music that cannot be shaken. The culmination of true craftsmanship is clearly a record of this quality, because every second is engrossing and enchanting in equal measure. As intoxicatingly resplendent and beautiful as this album is, there are pugnacious moments that invoke revulsion and anguish before settling upon another hypnotising passage. Melancholy and melody barrel headlong into dissonance and devastation, throwing us into the elements of chaos with musical integrity never faltering. The sense of tribulation is rivalled only by the potent outcome of enthused satisfaction. The heart of “Krystl-Ah” is no less impressive than the opening.

Venturing forth until the dying breaths, there is not a second wasted on this album. This is an impressive feat as it it’s well over the hour running time which could become tiresome for many other artists. Contrastingly, Mephorash ensure what could be a gruelling listen is actually a pleasurable one that is impossible to break away from. Instead of a painstaking slog through repetitious cliches, Mephorash reward the true Black Metal fan with a magnificent and magical experience that is unforgettable and mystifying. As such a baring of soulfulness, it is easy to feel a part of this release when one is listening to it which for extreme music can be a hard thing to achieve. The sense of emotion is definitely one entry point but also the such varied range of sounds and elements truly draw you in at every possible angle. However you find yourself spellbound, the result is the same, total immersion in their wondrous occult craft,

If you are familiar with the unique and diverse world of orthodox Black Metal, Mephorash is a name that should instantly spring to mind. This is for good reason, as a prime candidate of the niches most important artists, one must witness their art to believe it. Both on stage and on record these Swedish titans deliver and their fifth album is as victorious as ever…