For me, if there is a defining feature of the bands I’ve heard from the French black metal scene it has to be the intellect they often seem to build their music around. For better or worse depending on subject matter this forces the listener to take them seriously not only as musicians but as to the intent of their art which in turn makes their sound all the darker. Now on their fourth full length, though the first of theirs I’ve ever heard,Merrimackare no exception. This is focussed, serious stuff.
The intro to the album doesn’t mess around with faux spooky keyboards or any of that shit; nope, Merrimack use it to rip off your face with screams of guitars and vocals and drum battery and cripple you so that you can’t run away. Unable to hide, you then have to listen to the rest of The Acausal Mass.
With titles like ‘Arousing The Wombs In Nine Angels Pleroma’, ‘Obstetrics Of Devourment’ and ‘Abortion Light’ but (perhaps thankfully) no lyrics I have the impression of a linked theme and even a journey of gestation here but, whatever, there is certainly a strong and consistent sound. There are touches of less insane but still teetering on the edge of chaos Deathspell Omega in a guitar sound often seemingly circling into an irreversible descent into the pit, blast-beating drums and truly malevolent vocals growling and howling into the black storm the band conjure up. Everything seems on the brink of falling apart but never does. Unsettling melody and discordant hooks litter the songs like handholds but the deluge always comes back to engulf you and snatch them away. For all this, though, this is strangely straightforward listening. That is not a criticism, simply a line of demarcation betweenMerrimackand ‘out there’ bands like Blut Aus Nord and the aforementioned Deathspell.
There is a very strong feel of death metal in the spine of this album, though not perhaps in the cutting edge of the sound; kind of how Gehenna approached things around Adimiron Black but hidden by a more violent maelstrom. It is also pretty darned relentless in its sonic attack; from mid paced sections to all out blitzes they keep the intensity up and remarkably, through those unsettling melodies and a fluid way of changing pace this neither gets dull nor too samey. The production certainly helps; there is a modern, clear sound here but thankfully a restrained hand that keeps the Teflon coating afflicting many bands well at bay and lets the aggression rage.
I guess one criticism could be that the album might work a touch better with a few minutes shaved judiciously from its length, just to heighten the impact but as there are no really weak tracks that might be somewhat difficult. Which really only leaves the question of identity. There is just the niggling doubt at the back of my mind that there may be took many influences crowding out their own identity, but this may just be a product of a close scene and, anyway, as the album is so assured and well judged maybe that can take a back seat.
All in all a good, solid and feral beast that should appeal to a good few of the black metal hordes favouring that Gallic flavour.
7.5/10 Gizmo
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