Mortajas II

Chilean doom metal has more of a backstory than most people may realize, and listening to Mortajas is a good way to discover it. Formed by members of other local bands like Mar De Grises, Marchafunebre, and Mourners Lament, this relatively new collective have struck gold with their second attempt, distilling the essence of doom in 5 long tracks and stamping it with their own personality too. The mournful tones of classic Trouble and Saint Vitus are combined with a broader melodic spectrum and the same bittersweet personal feels that Reverend Bizarre brought from their part of the world, though here the Spanish lyrics add an intimacy rarely seen in such despondent music. The pacing remains necessarily slow for the most part, grovellingly so on the closing ‘He Perdonado’, yet moments of mid-pace excite and will get heads nodding, as with the dynamism on display during ‘Miedo y Dolor’.

The outstanding feature of Mortajas II lies in the unity of its means and its message. Some doom albums feel plain and gloomy because of monotonous pacing and austere instrumental choices; Mortajas drive at a singular point but do so in a variety of ways, moving through memorable riffs, epic building sections, vocal laments, climactic solos, and even the assistance of piano and several Hispanic instruments to ensure that nothing repeats while we come full circle on our existential dread. The album offers a quiet song, a despairing song, a raging song, a redemptive song - we always move onwards throughout 43 minutes, even if the style remains satisfyingly traditional. Mortajas II is truly a brilliant listen and an absolute must for all genre fans.


Originally written for Metalegion #14 - www.metalegion.com