Myrkur is a one-woman Danish project. Black metal of the highly atmospheric and somewhat folky are the name of the game. The album, M, was recorded in Oslo, Norway and co-produced by Garm of famed black metal act Ulver, with the assistance and contributions of other noted members of the community. You'd have to have buried your head in the sand to not hear about this album in the past month. But I understand ostriches love metal too, so this one is for you, my long-necked friends.
The album opens like a Tim Burton film, with Danny Elfman's haunting storybook-style intro hovering over a snowy landscape. Enter Myrkur's beautiful voice. If you've ever been curious what a siren's song sounds like, I wouldn't doubt many sailors have been dashed against the rocks following such soothing melodies. The rising and falling notes are like layers of silk, milk, and other such cliches. Even standing nearly on there own with slight piano accompaniment and ambiance ("Byssan Lull"), the performance is absolutely captivating. A blackened "Carol of the Bells" if you will. But there is always a slight foreboding quality behind the veneer.
This sinister backdrop takes hold in a number of different ways. Sometimes it's as simple as a shift in the vocal melody, a subtle dip into a minor scale. Other times, as on "Jeg er Guden, I er Tjenerne," the guitars take a doomy, Sabbath approach to counterbalance the vibrant singing. Finally, there are the intentionally rare, fiery explosions of Myrkur herself ("Hævnen," "Mordet"). The fact that these violent bursts of black metal fury are so few and far between, combined with the stark contrast to her usual loveliness, make them all the more jarring. It's that moment in the horror movies where the enticing female spirit suddenly lunges forth, revealing herself to be a demon or harpy.
But even taking the extreme moments in stride, the one word I would choose to label this album is "Gorgeous." From the perfectly layered atmosphere of reverb and synths, to the memorable guitar riffs, to the delightful singing; M conjures images of snow-capped mountains, winds ripping through an otherwise quiet forest, and gently flowing, freezing cold creeks. To use a term I have worn out a bit too much, it's breathtaking. And it can be yours today in various formats via bandcamp. Take a walk through the woods and explore the light and the darkness.
