Release
date: August
22nd
2019.
Label: The
Company KC.
Format: DD/Vinyl
The
Mortal
– Tracklisting
1.Prologue
01:33
2.Tower
Fall 06:11
3.Chaos
Blade 06:53
4.Ashen
Lake 04:07
5.Mindflayer
06:30
6.Basilisk
06:04
7.Metamorphosis
04:50
8.The
Mortal Suite 07:05
Members
Carter
Lewis - Guitar/ Keys/ Organ
Stu
Kersting - Guitar/ Saxophone/ Flute
Chase
Thayer - Guitar/ Additonal Percussion
Joey
Hamm - Bass Guitar
Jordan
Knorr - Vocals/ Storytelling/ Omnichord
Randall
Tripps- Drums/ Dark Magi
Guest
Musicians
Jeremy
Mcclain - Accordian
Garrett
Holm - Accordian
Bretstradamus
- Trumpet
Review
Progressive
Doom Rockers Merlin return with their latest and perhaps weirdest
offering with The Mortal. This is a expertly produced album that sees
Merlin expand on their trippy blend of Occult Doom, Psych Rock, Prog
Rock, Folk Rock and Stoner Rock style of music. Reviewing an album by
these guys is never an easy job as each album sounds quite different
to each other.
If
you’re in the mood for epic progressive Doom/Folk based music then
Merlin will cast a spell over you. The songwriting and vocals are
top-notch from the start with songs such as Tower Fall, Chaos Blade,
Mindflayer, and The Mortal State being the standout songs on the
album.
Merlin
cover a lot of ground of this album though the album is firmly rooted
in 70s Doom Metal and Progressive Rock with Black Sabbath and Jethro
Tull with the Folk Rock atmosphere coming on quite heavily compared
to their previous releases.
The
production is excellent and allows each member equal and valuable
time in the spotlight to show Doom Metal fans what they can actually
do. There is an air of intelligence to Merlin’s music that you just
don’t hear compared to other bands from the Doom Rock/Metal genre.
If
you’re a fan of Merlin already then you’ll will be listening to
this album for a long time to come. If this is your first time
listening to Merlin then they will cast you a magical spell over you
told through their powerful riffs.
This
album isn’t divisive as their previous album The Wizard. As it
follows the same progressive sounds and themes from the start. Maybe
Merlin are finally starting to settle for their own sound and their
days of experimenting with music are long gone. Then again, this is
Merlin we are talking about. The guys probably already have plans for
their next record to confuse and delight listeners with.
Overall,
The Mortal is a deliriously exciting and dark twisted vision from one
of the most inventive Doom Metal bands around.
Words
by Steve Howe
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