Myrkur has in the mean time become a name that’ll ring a bell to most metalheads. The one-woman black metal project is the brainchild of Amalie Bruun and has caused many adorations and hatings. One thing you can’t deny: she’s an intreaging person with a unique way of looking at the world. Anyone that is open to her artistry will admit that there’s quite a talent behind the music. Now she seems to want to surprise friend and foe with a little EP called Mausoleum. The release is basically a live recording, but not just your regular Myrkur gig. She collaborated with the Norwegian Girl’s Choir in the Emanuel Vigeland Mausoleum in Oslo to bring a special performance of some of her work.
Like I said already: don’t expect a regular Myrkur show that is recorded. And you can take that in the furthest sense of the words “not regular”. She opted to make completely acoustic versions of her songs with only piano or acoustic guitar accompanying the wonderful, almost ethereal voices of her and the choir. You almost don’t recognize the songs anymore without all of the ferocity that is normally included. While many fans might not really be into this, to me it shows that she’s an artist through and through. To completely rework her creations into the eerie, enchanting and hauntingly beautiful versions on this release seems quite a feat to me. It was a complete surprise to me when I heard the first notes after pressing play, but captivated me immediately.
Most of the performance contains songs from her debut full release M, one track of her EP Myrkur (Frosne vind) and the two stand alone tracks Den lille piges dod and Song to Hall Up High, of which the latter is a Bathory cover song. Opening track Volvens spadom draws you in with just their voices and you immediately hear the effect of the mausoleum. It really brings tons more character to the recording than when it would’ve been recorded in a studio or just plain venue. On the second song Jeg er guden, I er tjenerne just a bit of piano gets added and it goes on like this for the rest of the album. The voice of Amalie and the choir perfectly match and I can only imagine the amount of goosebumps it would give me when seeing this live at a similar setting!
Personally I’m blown away by Mausoleum, it showcases that Amalie isn’t just a phony but a real talent. For the black metal fan that longs for blast beats, screams and guitar riffs I’d advise to maybe skip this one. But if you’re open for any musical experience that is loaded with artistry, please give this Myrkur release a try! Personally I can’t get enough of this and I’m already thinking about a nature walk in the middle of nowhere with just these songs as the perfect soundtrack to the beauty around me. Mesmerizing and calming it is, it deserves a 9/10 in its near perfection!
Release Date: August 19th, 2016
Label: Relapse Records
Tracklist:
1. Volvens spadom
2. Jeg er guden, I er tjenerne
3. Skogen skulle do
4. Byssan lull
5. Den lille piges dod
6. Frosne vind
7. Onde Born
8. Song to Hall Up High
9. Dybt i skoven
