Morbonoct – The Highest Purpose

Written by on 03-03-2024 at 21:00.

Black metal act Morbonoct consists of a Polish/Ukranian duo. Their music should appeal to Darkspace and Limbonic Art fans. Well, that has my interest piqued already, especially the latter reference, as I first encountered this Norwegian symphonic black metal band in 2002 and swiftly sought out all their previous albums. I was so impressed by this cosmic form of black metal with incredibly fast drums that I could feast on it for a long time. The lastert release from these gentlemen dates back to 2017 and wasn’t universally well-received. How beautiful it is then that the unfamiliar Morbonoct promises us music with the same stylistic characteristics? The Highest Purpose is the band’s fourth album in just under four years. We are only now getting acquainted with this duo on Zware Metalen, and I wonder if we have been missing anything.

The album has a runtime of just under an hour, divided into  six songs, of which only two songs drop below the ten-minute mark. The music is layered, which is the similarity at first listen. Morbonoct‘s approach, however, differs otherwise from the aforementioned bands: the build-up of most songs is more temporized and full of spacey effects that create a very atmospheric feeling. Still, throughout the songs a few clear nods are given to a band like Limbonic Art, for instance during the partly raging Labirynth of the Damned. The downward guitar riffs in this song are particularly enjoyable! Opener Mortal Shell also leaves plenty of room for the bass guitar, which, moreover, remains audible during the quieter moments in the other songs.

Unlike the previously discussed track The Prayer starts off like a mad dash. The band doesn’t forget to shift back gears in time to add atmospheric keyboard parts. At moments like these the band reminds me most of the much slower doom outfit Abyssic. I really appreciate those cosmic additions, and together with the aforementioned layered approach, black metal screams, and fast(er) passages, this is a band that is pleasant to listen to. The Prayer ends with a deliciously wicked passage in its final phase, during which some peculiar vocals have been added. The drums significantly intensify the tempo to end in a temporized and spacey manner. Generally speaking the vocals are not mixed in very prominently; this duo relies more on developing the instrumental aspects.

And if, like your editor of service, you thoroughly enjoyed last year’s As in Gardens, So in Tombs (from …And Oceans), I wholeheartedly recommend the grand and immensely fast Comet King. What an incredible speed and atmosphere! After a calm atmospheric interlude, the blast beats come at you again with a crazy warp speed. During the short final phase, the duo brings back the serene singing that could be heard earlier. Death and Rebirth then builds up slowly with wonderfully erratic bass tones and thick guitar riffs. This time, the vocals are not drowned out, as they come through quite strongly. And suddenly, those ethereal vocals are back, which by now can be considered an integral part of the music. The musical structures are fast, hallucinatory, and occasionally temporized, now even towards a slower passage. Don’t expect it to last long, however, as this is a band that likes to go fast, in case you hadn’t understood that yet. And picking up the pace is what these gentlemen do in the last track, without getting sloppy or neglecting the necessary symphony, melody, or atmosphere.

In conclusion, I suspect this album by Morbonoct will particularly appeal to speed maniacs and fans of the aforementioned bands in this review. Vorga enthusiasts will undoubtedly enjoy this as well. The Highest Purpose is an incredibly powerful entry in the genre of which the duo can be exceptionally proud, not in the least taking into account the numerous perspectives, songwriting, and original approach! It only happens seldomly, but my coffee has actually gotten cold while writing this review. Yes, it’s that good.

Score:

92/100

Label:

Independent, 2024

Tracklisting:

  1. Mortal Shell
  2. Labirynth of the Damned
  3. The Prayer
  4. Comet King
  5. Death and Rebirth
  6. Beneath the Veil of Time

Line-up:

  • Alex Medvedev – Vocals, guitars, bass, drums, keyboards
  • David Welnicki – Vocals

Link: