Mizmor - Yodh - review
Mizmor - Yodh - review
Tracklist
01. Woe Regains My Substance02. A Semblance Waning
03. The Serpent Eats Its Tail
04. Inertia, An Ill Compeller
05. Bask In The Lingering
A review by
Auntie Sahar October 05, 2016
As this year's Yodh clearly demonstrates, Mizmor, an American effort led only by the individual known as "A.L.N.," delivers blackened doom of a particularly high quality. The music here isn't a case here of "slow and heavy black metal" or "doom ice cream with black metal sprinkles," as is normally the case with this stylistic fusion, where listeners feel pushed more in one direction over the other. Instead, Mizmor seems to be electrified with the elusive energy necessary for channeling the best of both, combining a thunderous, razor sharp black metal sound with doomy riffs that could knock over Everest, weaving both around each other into a truly impressive amalgamation. Opener "Woe Regains My Substance" is as powerful an example as any.
Mizmor isn't necessarily the only band within blackened doom circles that melts the two dimensions of its music into an excellent 50/50 fusion in such a manner. Other bands that do, however, often focus on the more aggressive sides of black and doom, in turn leading their music to become rather cold, monolithic, and dark. Perhaps this is what black and doom metal are really all about to begin with, but what particularly stands out on Yodh, that you don't see very often with this style, is the emphasis not only on intense fusion but on melody as well. You can see this especially on "The Serpent Eats Its Tail," with its atmospheric opening that soon erupts in heavy doom riffage and black metal space later that somehow still retains the sublime beauty of the track's beginning. This is an excellent technique that flows well into the remaining core of the music, but it could have been a bit more spread out, which is probably the only downside of this album.
What makes black and doom metal such wonderful choices for musical fusion? With Yodh, Mizmor seems to answer this question in many different ways. Maybe it's because both are very minimalist in their compositional approach. Maybe it's because both tend to create very dark, melancholic atmospheres. And maybe it's because, lyrically, both often focus on themes of isolation and self reflection. Mizmor know, of course, that it is truly all of those things, exploiting each towards the creation of the highly impressive, enjoyable work that is Yodh. Sure, I would have liked those melodic elements I mentioned to be a bit more widely dispersed, but still... don't be fooled. This is the thunder of Elohim right here.
Submit.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 8 |
| Production: | 8 |
Written by Auntie Sahar | October 05, 2016
Comments
Comments:
14
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 Posts: 3593 |
Posts: 3593
What an awesome cover this album has. *Listens*
---- Crackhead Megadeth reigns supreme.
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| LuciferOfGayness
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LuciferOfGayness
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Gonna listen to this again now when you have reviewed it. Good its here on ms 
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 Posts: 6941 |
Posts: 6941
Ok, I need to start compiling a list of Top 10 Creepiest Album Covers of 2016. There have been several and this is CERTAINLY one of htem. And, this album sounds fascinating. First of all, ice cream metaphor. Secondly, fusion of extreme genres with an emphasis on melody? SIGN ME UP.
---- "A life all mine Is what I choose At the end of my days" --The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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Posts: 115  |
Posts: 115
Is that album cover a Beksinski painting? If not, it's very reminiscent of his work.
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 Posts: 5989 |
Posts: 5989 Written by Susan on 06.10.2016 at 16:43 Haha, do it! And definitely include this one as well 
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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Posts: 5989 Written by WinterMadness on 06.10.2016 at 17:06 Not any one that I recognize, but you're right, the similarity is there for sure. Good call
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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Posts: 6941 Written by Auntie Sahar on 06.10.2016 at 17:25 I CAN'T LOOK AWAY
---- "A life all mine Is what I choose At the end of my days" --The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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Posts: 1062 Written by WinterMadness on 06.10.2016 at 17:06 I'm fairly certain it is, though I guess it's impossible to know for sure, since he made so many pieces during his lifetime and has had so many imitators since. Still, it seems to have that elusive quality that many imitators can't seem to get down properly, so it feels safe to say that it is likely to be his work. I was actually just coming here to mention the Beksinski cover, and was going to say that the good review plus the art makes me highly interested in checking out this album.
---- 
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 Posts: 197 |
Posts: 197
Yes it's an astonishing painting of Beksiński. http://beksinski.dmochowskigallery.net/galeria_karta.php?artist=52&picture=3330
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Posts: 5989 Written by cobrapel on 06.10.2016 at 22:00 God that guy's work is fucking metal. Thanks for the confirmation
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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 Posts: 15358 |
Posts: 15358
I bought this unheard from bandcamp on someone in MS towers recommendation... can't remember who, but enjoyed the album.
---- get the fuck off my lawn. Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
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Posts: 64329 Written by Maco on 06.10.2016 at 07:07 not as awesome as song title The Serpent Eats Its Tail
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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| LuciferOfGayness
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LuciferOfGayness
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Great black metal. Great doom. Great album. As I am a bit fussy I was a bit sceptical about 8 in originality but the divided fusion warrants it.
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Posts: 3  |
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That strange feeling when you decide to listen to an album even if the genre is not your cup of tea just because the cover is so damn great, don't like the music much (as expected) but still carry on the listening as a sign of respect to the cover.
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