Mord’A’Stigmata – Our Hearts Slow Down – EP Review

Mini album. EP. Call Our Hearts Slow Down what you will. In essence, the bulk of Mord’A’Stigmata’s latest release is simply an experiment in pushing Black Metal into new realms and one that is utterly captivating and highly successful for two thirds of its duration.

Triptykon, Blut Aus Nord, Natchtmystium….the blackened, bleak and morose nature of Our Hearts Slow Down recalls all three bands but while a feeling of desolation courses through it’s veins, the Post-Metal sounds that arise intermittently also reveal a strangely comforting and subdued soul. In particular, the clean lines that cut through the sinewy Black Metal core of the 12 minute “The Mantra Of Anguish” are ever threatening yet never all-consuming; invoking a true feeling of exploration through Black Metal’s murky waters into a ‘cleaner’ state of being.  The opposite is true of the equally epic “Those Above”, a bubonic blast of Black Metal that ups the aggression – and faithfulness to the genre’s core ingredients – while still channeling a Post-Black Metal ambience. The beauty in these two tracks is their ability to traverse a variety of blackened landscapes without becoming lost; attention consummately held despite the duration of the journey.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the self-titled closing instrumental that feels like it belongs elsewhere; Mord’A’Stigmata’s modus operandi more than accomplished with the 25 minutes that came before this relatively innocuous closing track. Nevertheless, while it neither harms nor aids the overall effect, it’s throwaway nature does little to quell the storm caused by the monumental surge of this spellbinding EP’s first two tracks.  

Until now, Mord’A’Stigmata had never truly registered as a band to keep an eye on but this EP has changed all that. While certainly not perfect, there’s enough evidence here to suggest that the underground has some new fearless heroes to worship. 8/10