Murg – Strävan

I have never heard of Murg before. And that’s a pity because their third offspring made quite an impression on me. Hailing from Sweden this band manages to offer an intriguing sound were aggression and atmosphere go hand in hand. Maybe band is the wrong word because this band consists of two members: Varghel and Urzul which are responsible for every instrument played on this album.

Strävan starts so sweet with opener “Ure Myren”. It feels like a walk in the forest and the melodies created remind me of a ballad. Well…..after a few minutes that image will change because this melody turns out to be an interlude to an atmospheric and grim sound. The forest is still there, and remains so until the album is over, but has shifted in a darker one where foul creatures roam and rule.

Murg has venom and melancholy in its veins. Just listen to “Strävan” and “Berget” where tremolo-picking, well dosed aggression and depression go hand in hand. Dark black metal sections, black metal screams and even blasting sections manage to create a noire atmosphere.

Original? Hardly. But who cares if it is executed in such manner? I certainly do not. The production is clear but not too polished. The screams are mixed in the background which add to the sinister and melancholic ambiance. And the guitar riffs are really a joy to listen to. When I listen to “Renhet”, “Korpen”, finishing track “Stjarnan” and the beautiful yet haunting “Tre Stenar” the sound is hallucinating and mesmerizing without missing aggression and gloominess, With the track “Altarett” there is a more direct and aggressive approach offered although the haunting melodies are still there.

Murg has caught me off guard with Strävan and has delivered an highly enjoyable and gloomy album with just the right atmosphere for me. I find myself visiting this album quite frequent and it never gets dull. A recommendation towards listeners of fans of Burzum and early Borknagar. Just wait until dark and put some candles on and listen this dark piece of art. Or even better…take a stroll in the woods and get your earphones going. Great stuff and highly recommended for fans of atmospheric and melancholic black metal.

Review by: Erik

Label: Nordvis Produktion
Releasedate: April 26th 2019

Score:8 out of 10

Track listing:

A1 Ur Myren

A2 Strävan

A3 Berget

A4 Renhet

B1 Korpen

B2 Tre Stenar

B3 Altaret

B4 Stjärnan

Metal-Exposure

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