Mortuaire – Mortuaire [EP]

Mortuaire is, what I would think, a rather new French Doom/Death Metal band, for there is no real date of band creation known. All we know is that this self-titled EP (otherwise listed as EP1) is their first real recording as an official band. And what a band it is, for all of the members come from various established acts and genres in France. Bands such as The Great Old Ones, Year Of No Light, Monarch and Endless Floods. So you have a mix of members from bands that are Post-Black Metal, Post-Metal and Sludge/Drone/Doom Metal coming together to show their love of Old School Death Metal, Old School Doom/Death Metal that is.

This ode to the good ol’ HM2 dominated days of yore may seem short to most, with there just being three tracks. But these three excellent tracks take you on one hell of a journey that seems much much longer (in a good way) than the just under twenty minute runtime that they actually take. It’s almost as if the journey takes you through decades worth of Death-ly exploration (life flashing before your eyes/ears) in just a matter of minutes. Fulfilling all the dreams and desires, wants and needs you have within this genre niche and more, much more.

Your every, well, everything. The guitars give that gritty, buzzsaw aforementioned HM2 sound combined with razor sharp killer riffs and uber thick grooves. There is actual audible bass here, bass that thickens the sound up oh so well or sometimes it bursts out in front like a calculated maniac, taking down all in it path. Plus you have a drum performance for the ages, every beat, every fill, every crash, every snare shot is where and when it should be at all times. Having that proper control behind the kit can really make or break a band. Next we need to discuss the vocals, as with most in the genre, there are no soaring, falsetto vocals here, but the proper timber and tone required for each section is applied to perfection. Finally, almost forgot, those solos, phew, just one word. Wow. And actually finally this time, just overall sound and feel (production) of this EP hits every synapse just right. Firing off that dopemine to a lush, gorgeous feel that allows every note, vocal hit, cymbal crash, everything to be clear and audible combined with the grimy, dirt covered atmosphere that this genre needs and cries for. Like I said, everything.

Like I have said, everything. But to add a few comparison bands for your reference I have to agree with Morruaire’s promo material here. They have mix of Entombed, Autopsy, Bolt Thrower and Nihilist. All that and more from this French underground supergroup’s outstandingly artistic and crushingly deadly Old School Doom/Death Metal. I have already said multiple times before and I will keep saying it as long as bands like Mortuarie keep releasing stuff like this EP here. We are seriously living in a new Golden Age of Death Metal. Check out this EP to see just one of the reasons why.