DÖDSRIT - MORTAL COIL
It is the first time that Dödsrit is releasing an album like a full band. The previous two released 'Dödsrit' and 'Spirit Crusher' were both released as an one-man project but now for 'Mortal Coil', Christoffer Öster (SWE) has called in the Dutch to help him out and release this monster of an album. Dödsrit has got an arsenal of experience already in releasing music with a mix of different genres ranging from D-Beat to atmospheric black metal. On 'Mortal Coil', the main genre of metal is atmospheric black metal. The adaptation of atmospheric black metal that Dödsrit gives us, isn't one for the beginners. 'Mortal Coil' is filled with excellent tempo changes and could be labeled as a riff-encyclopedia.
Just to recap on a few songs, the comparisons to the Belgian black metal scene are quickly made. The Wiegedood references could be applied to especially the opening track 'The Third Door' during the first half of the song. Dödsrit manages to capture the essence of a fast-paced melodic black metal and adapt it to their own style. When the song slows down you really hear the musical talent that these guys have. The builds-ups, the melodic changes in pace, they are all out there. What really stands out is the extremely tight drums played by Brendan Duffy (and not just on 'The Third Door', I mean throughout the whole of 'Mortal Coil'). During 'The Third Door', on multiple occasions, he 'announces' the pace of the upcoming bits in the song. Around the halfway of 'The Third Door', you will hear that old school melodic black metal that Dissection used to play. Such a beautiful way to move onto the next part of the song that is quite mesmerizing. This is where the Wiegedood influences come back for me. Such an amazing song to open 'Mortal Coil' with.
'Mortal Coil' (the song), has gotten something up its sleeve that I haven't heard in a while during an atmospheric black metal song. A well placed solo. The last time I've heard that was during Sojourner - Empires Of Ash. So that has been a while. This is how atmospheric black metal should sound like in my book. During this song, there are some other genres present. The more punky elements do pop up in this song and that is refreshing to hear. If it was just pure blasting black metal all the way you would have a weird combination of a Dark Funeral-ish type of black metal mixed with atmospheric black metal. Luckily Dödsrit knows what they are doing and makes it sound like no other has done in such a long while (as far as I know/heard of).
It is fresh to hear something like this popping up in my mail (thanks to Dead Mill Media). I knew that Dödsrit were releasing a new album but I didn't know when. So thank you Dead Mill Media for sending me this to review. Such an eye-opener that this music could still be made and not sounding like a rip-off of any atmospheric black metal band. 'Mortal Coil' sounds barren, it sounds cold, it sounds abandoned. It is a phenomenal album to listen to.
Overall, 'Mortal Coil' is one of those albums that is too short. Not like that the songs are short, because they aren't, but only 4 songs. I could listen to this type of atmospheric black metal for over an hour. So if there were any negative points to 'Mortal Coil', it would be that it was too short. That is all. Go and check it out, pre-order it through Wolves Of Hades and thanks again Dead Mill Media for introducing me to Dödsrit. Go and support all of them but support Dödsrit on their atmospheric black metal rampage throughout the world.
