Mors Principium Est - Darkness Invisible

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Mors Principium Est is one of the most underrated bands on the scene today, melodic death or otherwise.  Their music is fantastic and in my humble opinion they deserve to be mentioned alongside the greats.  They have been kicking it for 25 years and “Darkness Invisible” is their 8th full length album.  


I know there has been some drama around line up changes but that isn't my business. I'm here for the music. Plus, the original guitarists Jarkko and Jori have returned so this album speaks to me since I discovered the band way back during “The Unborn” era.


Mors has always had an unique sound to me, especially compared to some other melodic death bands.  “Darkness Invisible" channels that uniqueness very well. It has an epic, sweeping atmosphere to it while also being fast and aggressive.  Furthermore, the album retains the band's signature sound of catchy melodies with a hint of sorrow and melancholy. 


The production/mix is shiny and bright. That doesn't work for some bands but it does for Mors Principium Est because it lets every little shine through so it sounds smooth even at its most chaotic. 


Ville's vocals seem ageless and between his screams and growls, he once again throws in a huge performance. Original bassist Teemu and longtime drummer Marko round out one of the strongest rhythm sections in the genre. The band is firing on all cylinders!


The album opens with “Of Death,” and it's darkened keys that set up the rest of the song. With a flurry of drumming the song kicks off with strong melodies and catchy riffs.  The chorus is gripping, riding atop a massive wall of sound that crumbles back into a fast paced passage. The solo near the end is fantastic!


“Monuments,” is a powerful statement of the bands renewed sense of energy—this is one of their best songs. I love how effectively the song melds keys and guitars together. It's a big song with excellent pacing. It too has a great chorus that sounds very natural in the song's structure.  The last minute or so is a crescendo of beastly power that caps off the song nicely.


“Beyond The Horizon” recalls their older material with its daring sense of adventure.  This song almost sounds like a soundtrack score it places but made all the better with very aggressive riffs and brutal bass/drum attacks.  The middle passage is impressive with its focus on keys, the liminal spaces setting up for the rest of the song to hammer the death metal in.


“In Sleep There Is Peace” is anything but peaceful. The vocals are searing as the guitars dance around melody and harmony against the backdrop of a very much zeroed in rhythm section. This song is a nonstop banger!


The final song, “Life Is Evil” ends the album in a grandiose fashion. The thick guitars and low end growls are one layer while the clean chants and lead guitar form another. Bolstering it all up is the bass and drums, which consistently push the song to the next level. One hell of a final song and the clean female vocals are perfect. 


All in all, Mors Principium Est continue to solidify their place and that's never been more apparent than it is with “Darkness Invisible” which is a strong statement of the health of the band and the genre.


Rating: Excellent 




 



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