Depths Below Space and Existence

Mormant De Snagov is a band from Turku/Finland and “Depths below Space and Existence” is their third full length album. Hailing from Finland and playing black metal leads to potential listeners having certain expectations and without taking too much away I can state that those are largely met. Not very surprisingly they borrow a lot from the second wave of Scandinavian black metal but while there is nothing dramatically new to be found here the guys managed to inject just enough own ideas to make a fresh sounding record.

Rapid tremolo pickings and relentless blast-beat attacks play a major role but Mormant De Snagov do not shy away from implementing some chords that have more of a Rock vibe to them. Epic guitar harmonies are dwelling in the background giving the whole affair a highly melodic vibe. While the playing is quite technical in places the band mainly focus on creating a great atmosphere that can range from being melancholic and dream-like to eerie and slightly depressive. Some disharmonic elements are used to build tension but such chaotic sections always lead back to more melodic parts. There are a few nice surprises like e.g. the piano section in the middle of “Stories Untold” making the whole album even more interesting.

The interaction of these different moods is what makes Mormant De Snagov stand out from the pack. They cleverly take the trademark riffs of each track and slice and dice them to give the songs another layer. Some of the hooks are very memorable so after the second or third listen you will recognize most of the lead lines and it will become easy to distinguish one song from the other and see the whole picture that the band wanted to create.

One highlight for sure is the drumming by Pekka Jokela who has everything needed in his repertoire. Ultra-fast blasts and relentless fills are alternating with more groovy and laid-back sections. Depending on what a concrete moment asks for he is able to ramp up the intensity or slow things down and concentrate on the groove.

The vocals by Miska Lehtivuori are very evil and raw. His barking and snarling works to great effect making the whole music even more sinister. There are also a few growls added into the music perfectly fitting to the sound. With a very powerful and clear production “Depths below Space and Existence” is a highlight for anyone looking for highly atmospheric yet also hefty and traditional black metal.