Mortuaire – Monde Vinde

Mortuaire is a French band formed in the early 2020s and this is their premiere full-length ‘Monde Vide’ (Empty World) which I would describe as mid tempo Death/Doom with some Thrash and Hardcore Punk influence that goes faster here and there and goes slow a good amount. The music even further than that slows right down to an ice cold slow drip of blood on some parts which for me felt like highlights and the band leaning into their strengths. It sounds influenced by stuff like Nihilist/Entombed-type Swedish Death Metal at the mid-tempo points but deals more in slow territories than such bands, in which there’s seems more Autopsy-influenced and gets very heavy.

The primary vocals here are somewhat distant and go quite brutal and deep on some parts. I found what were maybe crust influences in some tracks’ shouted vocals style of the other vocalist, it added variation to the sound. The guitar tone is chunky and round, nothing too raw or filthy here but rather heaviness is emphasized. It’s like a Hardcore band doing Doom Metal staying at mid pace alot and then hitting you with a crazy ancient mystery type riff off cuff. There’s some good solos here that show up briefly, not too ridiculous, just nice succinct rippage that adds some flourishes and moves on with itself. I love the subtle use of a weird organ/synth/pedal. I don’t know what to call it but it adds a dissonant eldritch element onto a couple of the longer pieces here which I felt was an idea that worked. Mortuaire cultivated some creepy atmosphere on ‘Monde Vide’ which the excellent cover art ties in well with and is a good indicator of what you’re getting into with this one. The song titles are dope so here’s a couple translated; Pyramide d’Or (Golden Pyramid), Mauvais Présage (Ill Omen), Tranchant (Sharp/Cutting Edge).

There is a clean production on this album, it’s more modern sounding and has a big studio feel. I think it sounds very crisp which I find in this sort of genre can work against the music rather than for it at times, however fans who prefer a more raw filthy production should give it a spin anyway if they are into the genre. Cemetery dweller parts for the ghouls. Expect mid tempo shake down hustle and bustle type riff moments turning into tough guy step dad stomp for a couple bars then into some shining lights 80’s horror movie trailer into getting thrown into a coffin and dirt on top of you, that’s a decent indication of what the progression of these songs can feel like.

In particular here on ‘Monde Vide’ the strongest tracks were the longer more drawn out brutal ones with more slow parts like ‘Octogone de fer’ (Iron Octagon). It makes me think of an evil underwater temple dedicated to Dagon or some such entity of the depths. Submerged in pitch black waters and shapes slowly coming into view, indescribable things haunting within the structure and lurking just outside far below where the sun’s beams touch. It conjures an atmosphere which I appreciate.