Release Date: April 11th 2025. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Formats: DD
Mørker - Tracklisting
1.Take This Light Away
2.When You're Old
3.Time Stood Still
4.Couch Anthem
5.Make No Sense
6.Another Reason To Stay
7.Weighted Daze
Members:
Mika Häkki
Review
Mørker is the new album from Mika Häkki better known as the powerhouse bassist from Doom Metal Heavyweights MONOLORD and this is Mika’s second full length album. Mika’s musical style is quite different to his MONOLORD colleagues with a mixture of Heavy Atmospheric sounds and Composed Laidback melodies which showcase a fine style of Classic Rock, Folk, Americana, Country, Psych, Prog and Post-Rock appearing throughout.
There is a deft touch of Psychedelic and Sonic experimentation within the album with Mika’s superbly Folk-ish vocal style which traverses through the Soft Rock and Hard Rock elements that Mørker expertly handles. The lyrics are quite insightful and hopeful with deep emotional meaning with Mika hitting upon some dark strands of Gloomy based Rock on songs such as Take This Light Away, When You’re Old and Time Stood Still.
Mørker works best when the 1970’s based haunting melodies and experimental Prog Rock sounds merge instances of Americana, Folk and Psych Rock with Mika keeping a sullen guitar sound as his main instrument of choice. It’s to Mika’s credit that everything sounds real and quite organic with a wide range of musical influences being used mostly from the 1970’s and 1980’s Soft Rock scene but there’s still a small murmur of Post-Doom surroundings appearing from time-to-time.
Mika is joined by the following guest musicians on the record for a few songs: Klas-Henrik Hörngren on keys, Krister Selander on bass and Kristoffer Ragnstam on drums and backing vocals. They all play splendidly especially during the heavier and darker moments of the album with some trippy and heavy hazy sounds that I didn’t expect.
Other standout tracks include: Couch Anthem, Another Reason To Stay and Weighted Daze.
There is a deeper reliance on Progressive sounds especially on Another Reason To Stay and Weighted Daze. Though Mørker has a few hidden surprises throughout with flashes of Distortion and Fuzz being injected into the mix. I’m pretty certain you can hear echoes of Post-Punk and Gothic Rock within Mika’s instrumental delivery at times but that could be an oversight on my behalf, whatever the sound I originally heard, it’s downright original and offers some of the heaviest and freakiest grooves on the album.
Mørker is an absolute delight with Mika firing on all musical cylinders to create an album which is an absolute delight to listen to and showcase a completely different side to his MONOLORD persona.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Sheltered Life and Majestic Mountain Records for the promo.
Mørker will be available to buy on digital download via Majestic Mountain Records from Friday 11th April 2025.
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