Mortifera — IV Sancti Tristhess
To get straight to the point, this is a fine release with outstanding guitar work, bass lines you can actually hear, bombastic drumming and dynamic vocals. The down side of IV Sancti Tristhess is that save for four songs out of the eleven, it gets a bit monotonous. To describe Mortifera to the uninitiated is vague. Alcest first comes to mind (as Neige was a member from 2001-2005) as does Agalloch and more recent Enslaved. It is black metal but more towards the depressive and melancholic leanings.
Two of the most moving songs here are instrumentals. The opener “Bouffé par les vers Et La Pourriture” with its strong acoustic guitars played lilting above a fierce drums; it’s so strong and proud one gets ready to be awed by the incredible heavy riffs and raw intensity. Likewise with the closer “Sancti Luminiih Mortifera”; where the gorgeous acoustic guitars strum once again with a bouncy bass line, vaguely riffy in a thrashy way with riffs reminiscent of songs off Metallica’s Master of Puppets. “Profana”, is another wonderfully melodic and dark song. Mid-paced in tempo, the dynamic mix of restraint and ferocity is beautiful. It also features a fantastic guitar solo that sends the music over the edge. “Pendulum Mortii” is another mid-paced track. The guitar harmonies give an ethereal presence to it, layered with infectious riffs that are melodic as hell. Vocals here, and on the other songs are also well done. Fierce, screeching but with a focus on emotion and power, to be quite blunt it’s the vocals Alcest should have.
The other tracks are fine, just not very memorable. They have moments of balls out rage; like on “Memoire scarifiee” and “En Milieu De Nuit” and nostalgia for 80’s thrash riffiness on “L’empire Des Blattes” and “Hora Laceratum”. All in all it’s a diverse yet somewhat floundering affair. High marks are for the actual compositions, if only they were able to consistently be as fierce and dynamic throughout this would have been a must have release.