It seems to me that I write often about Polish bands lately. There is no doubt that there is a good scene in Poland, and another piece of evidence comes from Zørormr, a one-man band formed by Moloch in 2013 at Opole, Poland. The debut album Kval arrived soon the same year, then IHS in 2013; now the third full-length has arrived: Corpus Hermeticum. What struck me about this project is its eclecticism: on a black metal base, Zørormr is able to harmoniously conflate influences from almost every style within metal music, from classic metal to thrash and death metal. Examples include “Twilight of the Idols”, with its slow rhythm and a guitar solo in a classic metal style, and “Nyarlathotep” with nuances from Immortal of Sons of Northern Darkness; and of course no shortage of blast beats. There is also an instrumental song, the meditative “The Seventh Sermon to the Dead”.
As always, Moloch, a talented and skilled multi-instrumentalist, surrounded himself with a team of top notch musicians; once again Quazarre (Asgaards, Devilish Impressions) was responsible for the lead guitar. Quazarre is a Polish guitar virtuoso, his style reminding me vaguely of Andy LaRocque; however he disproves all those who claim that black metal and solos do not get along. Speaking about guitar virtuosos, Mike Wead from King Diamond played the guitar solo on the eponymous song “Corpus Hermeticum”, and his solo is absolutely super; the album also features Hal of Vader on vocals on “In the Mouth of Madness”, while the drums, 100% acoustic, were done by Icanraz (Devilish Impressions, Pigface Beauty).
The lyrics are full of anti-religion, evil and occultism:
“I reject your reality
And substitute my own!
I am the conqueror worm
Defiling the throne”
(from “In the Mouth of Madness”)
The production of this album is crystal clear and the sounds are perfect even if the band proudly stresses that it is a true AAA quality black metal production.
Corpus Hermeticum is a superb album and is particularly recommended for those who like other metal styles as well as black metal.
Notes:
Release date: February 22 2015 on Via Nocturna. The album was mixed and mastered by Arek “Malta” Malczewski (Behemoth). The digital album can be bought via the Bandcamp player below for 5$.
Tracklist:
1. I Am Legend
2. Against All Heresies
3. In the Mouth of Madness
4. Nyarlathotep
5. Twilight of the Idols
6. Corpus Hermeticum
7. The Seventh Sermon to the Dead
8. Worship Me...
9. This I Command!
Personnel:
Moloch: Guitars, Bass, Vocals, Keyboards
Guest musicians:
Mike Wead: Guitars (lead) (track 6)
Hal: Vocals (track 3)
Icanraz: Drums
Quazarre: Guitars (lead)
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
As always, Moloch, a talented and skilled multi-instrumentalist, surrounded himself with a team of top notch musicians; once again Quazarre (Asgaards, Devilish Impressions) was responsible for the lead guitar. Quazarre is a Polish guitar virtuoso, his style reminding me vaguely of Andy LaRocque; however he disproves all those who claim that black metal and solos do not get along. Speaking about guitar virtuosos, Mike Wead from King Diamond played the guitar solo on the eponymous song “Corpus Hermeticum”, and his solo is absolutely super; the album also features Hal of Vader on vocals on “In the Mouth of Madness”, while the drums, 100% acoustic, were done by Icanraz (Devilish Impressions, Pigface Beauty).
The lyrics are full of anti-religion, evil and occultism:
“I reject your reality
And substitute my own!
I am the conqueror worm
Defiling the throne”
(from “In the Mouth of Madness”)
The production of this album is crystal clear and the sounds are perfect even if the band proudly stresses that it is a true AAA quality black metal production.
Corpus Hermeticum is a superb album and is particularly recommended for those who like other metal styles as well as black metal.
Notes:
Release date: February 22 2015 on Via Nocturna. The album was mixed and mastered by Arek “Malta” Malczewski (Behemoth). The digital album can be bought via the Bandcamp player below for 5$.
Tracklist:
1. I Am Legend
2. Against All Heresies
3. In the Mouth of Madness
4. Nyarlathotep
5. Twilight of the Idols
6. Corpus Hermeticum
7. The Seventh Sermon to the Dead
8. Worship Me...
9. This I Command!
Personnel:
Moloch: Guitars, Bass, Vocals, Keyboards
Guest musicians:
Mike Wead: Guitars (lead) (track 6)
Hal: Vocals (track 3)
Icanraz: Drums
Quazarre: Guitars (lead)
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com