Mork - Dypet (2023)

As the brainchild of Thomas Eriksen, Mork is one of those well polished bands that perfectly blends melody and catchiness with traditional Norwegian Black Metal. With “Dypet”, the band’s sixth full-length release we get 47 minutes spread out in eight tracks filled with sinister melodies and a very dark and eerie vibe, exactly what the doctor ordered for a cold and rainy day.

The release sets a dark and melancholic tune with the opener “Indre demoner” and it nicely transitions into typical Mork melodic madness with “Forført av kulden” and “Svik”. Keeping the band as a one-man outfit, the music is well honed into their signature style and every detail is quite polished to create a signature experience that the earlier releases have delivered, but with a slight forward push into darker territories.

For those of us looking for piercing riffs and pulsating bass guitar lines, “Et kall fra dypet” is a memorable piece with that frosty fierceness of old school Norwegian BM. Featuring Erlend Hjelvik (ex-Djevel) on “Høye murer”, we get a very snazzy mixture of vocal styles alongside excellent guitar work and quite melodic drumming.

Closing with the playful “Avskum” and the more direct and punishing “Tilbake til opprinnelsen”, Mork has delivered an excellent release filled with signature moments and a more sinister and melancholic edge. We love the band’s high-octane music, and we get some here, but we also appreciate the darker and more cavernous feel of this release. If you like Norwegian Black Metal with a good dose of catchiness and polish, “Dypet” is the release for you.

Label: Peaceville Records

Release: March 24th, 2023

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Norway