Somewhere in Boston , MA at the intersection of doom, post rock, sludge and fucking awesome lies the band Morne. A new act to me, but after seeing some positive press and the band being on Profound Lore, I just had to check their second album out. I was greatly rewarded, as will you upon picking up this release.

The mix of the above genres, while hardly unique is rendered perfectly with the expected mix of Neurosis (especially vocally) and a more rending, layered evocative, doom style complete with the odd very effective cello/violin and synth/piano work. However, the band that actually came to mind was the Mindrot/Eyes of Fire..

From the very start of opening 17 minute title track, all of the 7 rangy tracks on Asylum are utterly enthralling, interesting pieces of engrossing music and picking a standout is difficult. Each of the tracks run the gamut of somber rumbling, steady post rock marches, melancholic introspection and the occasional bursts of heavier, d-beat crust. Vocalist Milosz Gassan has the standard exasperated, distant Steve Austin bellow, the album’s only real generic element. The production is earthy and heavy, but the sonic intricacies make it glimmer with a delicate hue many times.

Like I said, picking a standout is tough, but I did find myself returning to three track in particular; “I Will See You” with a rending opening canticle that could have come from My Dying Bride‘s the Angel and the Dark River (as do moments of “My Return”) before morphing into a steady post rock, almost instrumental number. Then “Nothing to Remain” (a track that elicits Fall of Efrafa for me) delivers 7 minutes of  emotional piano laden dejection  before peaking with a rousing crusty climax.

However, the track that really cements the albums brilliance is closer “Volition” which features Amber Asylum‘s Kris Force on Cello and Jarboe on vocals. For 7 minutes, Jarboe and Force ensnare you with a hypnotic, sensual, but slightly unhinged (it is Jarboe after all) dance of melancholic poetry. But around 6 minutes in, the band jump in and deliver an absolutely monstrous, Morgion sounding doom lope that ends the album with a break taking closure,  making for one of my favorite songs of the year and solidifying the album’s spot on my year end list.

 

 

 

 

[Visit the band's website]

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