Review: Mordran — One-and-Ninety Years of Darkness

Band: Mordran
Album: One-and-Ninety Years of Darkness
Genre: Black Metal
Country: Sweden
Label: Independent
Released: 25th of October 2024

Introduction:

Mordran is an independent, one-man, atmospheric black metal project hailing from Sweden. Founded in 2021, Mordran has released 4 albums and 2 EPs to date. His music takes influence from various genres, blending them together to craft a unique soundscape.

His latest offering, One-and-Ninety Years of Darkness, is a 3 track EP set to be released October 25th.

One-and-Ninety Years of Darkness

  1. The Dark Rites of Faustus Thorn
  2. Nightbringer
  3. One-and-Ninety Years of Darkness

The first track, The Dark Rites of Faustus Thorn, starts the EP off strong. It’s melancholic guitar riffs and screeched vocals are very reminiscent of the second wave and is initially what drew me to this release. The riffs are cold and invoke images of winter and feelings of loss.

Track two, Nightbringer, is raw, dark, and atmospheric. My personal favorite of the 3. The guitar riffs and overall tone and vibe of this track remind me of early Burzum. The song starts out at a very intense pace and progresses into a wall of droning, icy riffs. The harsh, shrieked vocals are truly befitting here. Again, this track creates feelings of being alone in a snow-covered forest and Solitude.

Track three, One-and-Ninety Years of Darkness, leaves something to be desired for me. Being the title track, and the last track on the EP, I had higher hopes for it. For the most part, I feel it would have better suited the album as it’s opening track. It’s simply just dungeon synth and feels more like an intro.

Conclusion:

Taken as a whole, the EP is another great entry into Mordrans catalogue. He has continued to hone and perfect his craft with every release. Fans of the second wave will feel right at home here. Specifically early Burzum.

BMZ Rating: 7 – Good: A solid and enjoyable album overall. It boasts strong songwriting and performance quality, delivering a cohesive and satisfying listen.

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Support Mordran here: https://mordran.bandcamp.com/album/one-and-ninety-years-of-darkness

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