When fans of extreme metal hear the word "complexity" in connection with black metal, many of them immediately think of symphonic black metal; they think of the bands that have expanded black metal's horizons by combining it with power metal and even progressive rock. But
MoRT, like previous
Blut Aus Nord releases, brings complexity and nuance to black metal without having anything to do with symphonic black metal -- and while a symphonic black metal band might claim
Queensrÿche,
Judas Priest and
Iron Maiden as influences (along with
Dimmu Borgir and
Emperor), this French outfit gets a lot of inspiration from industrial and goth rock. The non-black metal influences that have served
Blut Aus Nord well in the past -- influences ranging from
Godflesh and
Killing Joke to
the Sisters of Mercy to
Neurosis -- continue to serve them well on
MoRT (which means "Dead" in French). Some black metal enthusiasts may argue that this black metal/alternative metal CD is strictly alternative metal and shouldn't even be called black metal; the vocals are raspy black metal-style vocals, but the brooding material is not structured in a typical black metal fashion -- and there are no blastbeats. However one categorizes
MoRT -- black metal, alternative metal or both -- this album is an exciting, memorable listen. Although
MoRT has its share of noise, distortion and feedback, the disc is not an exercise in ferocity for the sake of ferocity.
MoRT is heavy without being claustrophobic or oppressive, and it is also moody and darkly atmospheric; this release isn't really about songwriting (none of the tunes have a standard verse/chorus/verse/chorus format) but rather, about maintaining a very dark, eerie and gloomy atmosphere. It would be a stretch to call
MoRT genuinely disturbing --
Blut Aus Nord doesn't convey evil the way that
Slayer, one of their influences, conveys evil -- but even so, it is a memorable addition to their black metal/alternative metal catalog. ~ Alex Henderson