Mysterium
“Cimmerian Storm” (Sonorous Night, 2024)

 

Mysterium is a Norwegian Black Metal entity, a quite recent one for that matter. The man behind it is Are Liseth (Altertum, Cage of Torment, Illvilje, Infernal Wind, Moonshrine, Through Your Eyes, Vorgfang). If I may, Vorgfang is amazing. Please go check it out.

I adore that this work carries melodies of old, an almost palpable sense of ancient times. I know that many bands try to replicate all the atmosphere, and many are able to put it into their music, but it is always a pleasure when you hear the music, and you feel taken back in time when you first discovered Black Metal.

Musically speaking, what we have is straightforward Black Metal, and nothing else. But this is what we are looking for, this sort of sound! it is raw, but also melodic, it is reminiscent of old days, yet it does not sound dated! I will not say that it sounds like a simple replica, for it does not! It holds on to a beautiful sound, a sound that provides a bridge to older days, as mentioned above, and I find it beautiful.

Honestly speaking, I feel the production takes away much of the charm. Some might fight me over this statement, statement which I stand by! An extremely clean production can ruin a record’s aura, I know, but it can in a positive or in a negative way… Nonetheless, the melody still crawls out from underneath the weight, and it triumphs. “Moon’s Pallid Gleam” has an amazing melody that you can barely hear, but once you get it, it is hard to not hold on to it with all your strength. And the keyboard work is tremendous. It reminds me why I loved Symphonic Black Metal as a kid, and why I still love it as an adult.

Overall, Mysterium encapsulates a sound that was never lost, and that still holds as much power has it did when it first started. Eagerly waiting for more from this amazing artist.