Marduk - 'Wormwood'

Swedish black metallers still on their game.

When you’ve been around as long as Marduk your career will always have certain arcs. There will be the masterpieces (Opus Nocturne), the albums beloved by fans (Panzer Division Marduk) and the disappointments (La Grande Danse Macabre). Wormwood doesn’t merit instant classic status, but is nonetheless a gripping listen. There seems to be a conscious effort to bring Marduk back to their bristling, death metal-tinged sound without abandoning the experiments and ambience that have given their recent music more texture and depth.

The opener “Nowhere, No-One, Nothing,” prepares listeners for a pure blast-a-thon but fortunately there’s more to Wormwood. The second track favors a pace similar to much of predecessor Rom 5:12 with a slow riff competing with a more frenzied licks. “The Fleshy Void and “Into Utter Madness” are classic Marduk – short blasts of hateful, precise speed. “Phosphorous Redeemer,” which includes lyrics penned by Michayah of Ofermod (a fellow Swedish black metal band), begins with ambient creepiness before more ripping speed.

Vocalist Mortuus offers his most powerful and multifaceted performance since joining Marduk. He growls, screeches, moans and uses his voice as an instrument that often overpowers guitarist Morgan Håkansson. Attila Csihar gets most of the plaudits for black metal vocals but Mortuus, who also performs as Arioch for Funeral Mist, is a worthy rival. His contributions make this album eerie and memorable.

Despite changing lineups and the passage of time many bands from black metal’s second wave are still around. Mayhem is playing live but without guitarist Blasphemer what happens in the studio next is a question mark. Darkthrone moved out of classic metal into blackened punk years ago. Fellow veterans Marduk continue to find the right people and pieces to make music worthy of their past and the genre’s heritage.