Morne – Engraved With Pain

One Listen Review

1st Listen – 2 Nov 2023
Reviewed – 3 Nov 2023

Morne – Engraved with Pain

Metal Blade Records

Released 3 Nov 23

The 4^th album by Boston quartet, Morne, is difficult to categorise. Part Doom, part Sludge, even large slabs of Post Metal straddle Engraved With Pain like an extreme metal colossus, daring you to pigeon-hole the band.

It is this scenario that gives Morne an edge over their peers. Engraved With Pain is an album that is consistently interesting, an album that challenges the listener across its running time that is just shy of 41 minutes. The band also deliver this challenge in a mere 4 songs, with only ‘Wretched Empire’coming in at under the 10 minute mark.

Lyrically, Engraved With Pain is bleak. Describing ‘Wretched Empire’, guitarist/vocalist Milosz Gassan advises that ‘it is not an optimistic song’. This bleakness does not seep into the musicality of

of the album however, it is not akin to a Funeral Doom record or similar. Instead, we are hit with heavy atmospheric openings that deliver a sense of foreboding, as heard in the opening title track of the album. Moody riffs are provided as well, album closer ‘Fire and Dust’ carry these in abundance, and also have a lengthy outro that is pure liquid fire!

Production wise, the album is perfection. Kurt Ballou has provided his considerable producer chops to the album and has completely captured the essence of Morne with consummate ease. He has helped deliver an album with a subtle heaviness that belies its lyrical tone. Everything about the album is crisp and clear, be it the impressive drums of Billy Knockenhauer or the strong vocals of Gassan. It adds to an already mightily impressive album.

Engraved With Pain is a triumph. A lot has happened since the 2018 release their prevous opus, ‘To the Night Unknown’and the Bostonians have channeled this into an album that provides a knock-out punch on from the very first notes.

This is an album to listen to again and again.

Band Website: http://www.morneboston.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mornecrust

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/morneband

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/morneband

Bandcamp: http://www.morneband.bandcamp.com/