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Mortifera - Maledictiih review



Reviewer:
7.0

4 users:
6.5
Band: Mortifera
Album: Maledictiih
Release date: June 2010


01. Drame Macabre
02. Portrait Sanglant
03. La Valse Mortuaire
04. Givre Nocturne
05. Agonie
06. Pale Comme Le Néant
07. Complainte Nécromantique
08. Jusqu'au Dernier Souffie
09. Averse De Larmes Froide

Despite my current slowly waning interest in the Black metal scene, a new Mortifera is something I cannot possibly ignore. Vastiia Tenebrd Mortifera is in my opinion one of the finest Black metal albums France has to offer and if you're geographically aware of the current scene, you know that is not a light statement. Can Maledictiih live up to the expectations?

In short: no. Maledictiih is not a bad album, but it just doesn't have that 'magic touch'. After only a couple of playthroughs, it's not very difficult to establish where Noktu went wrong. First of all, the vocals are far less impressive than on the debut. Now that Neige is no longer in the band, the batshit insane shrieks have been replaced with Noktu's mediocre croaks. A tremendous shame, a once so impressive feature of Mortifera now is no more. Secondly, the riffs sound far less inspired than before. Vastiia Tenebrd Mortifera was filled to the brim with emotive tension, juxtaposing harsh layers of distortion with riffs that -at times- could almost bring you to tears. While they have the same sound and are played in the same style, they don't have the same impact. You'll be hard-pressed to find a song as good as "Le Revenant" (VTM's highlight - and written by Neige) on Maledictiih. It just isn't there.

Can we conclude that without Neige, Mortifera is not Mortifera? I'm not sure we can, because I'm not fully aware of who was responsible for what on Vastiia Tenebrd Mortifera, but it damn well looks like it... too bad. Above average Black metal is nothing to cheer for coming from Mortifera. The best description for Maledictiih I can come up with is that it is a second-rate rip-off of the debut - and basically, the remaining band member (Noktu) ripping off his former, more talented band mate (Neige). Too bad.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 8
Songwriting: 6
Originality: 6
Production: 7





Written on 04.09.2010 by If you're interested in extreme, often emotional and underground music, check out my reviews. I retired from reviewing, but I really used to be into that stuff.


Comments

Comments: 4   Visited by: 93 users
04.09.2010 - 16:14
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Oh well, I'm feeling more and more like this about black metal too, especially depressive black metal. Just a case of the heard-it-all-before's it seems. Nicely written review.
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04.09.2010 - 18:32
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Nice to see your reviews again man, it's been a while I believe

Sad to hear that the second album isn't worth it compared to the debut though :\
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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04.09.2010 - 19:06
Lucas
Mr. Noise
Written by X-Ray Rod on 04.09.2010 at 18:32

Nice to see your reviews again man, it's been a while I believe

Sad to hear that the second album isn't worth it compared to the debut though :\


Yeah I decided to take a temporary break. I felt it itching again last week though, so I whipped this up. I can't stop dropping my lame opinion everywhere I can apparently, so I'll probably keep doing this for a while.
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SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what?

"The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
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05.09.2010 - 00:52
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Agreed with everything, although I think I'd give it around a 6/10. Very meh.
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"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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