Merkstave – Merkstave (2013)

Undeground Funeral Doom legends from the US Northwest finally see the ‘proper’ release of their demo materials with this monumental self-titled LP release. With three songs clocking in at a total of 44 minutes of gut-wrenching Doom, this release has that raw and analog vibe of bands like Thergothon. As the songs were originally released on tape, we are unsure if these versions are newer recordings or just re-mastered originals, but what we are sure is that they are as crushing as you can get.

Opening with the behemoth “Lament for Lost Gods Pt.1”, the band starts on a very tranquil and slow paced stage. Their sound is very consistent to bands like Shape of Despair and such, but it differs with the usage of mournful clean vocals and some Black Metal-esque screams. “Lament for Lost Gods Pt.2” nicely continues the flow of the release with sparse guitars at the beginning, slowly leading up to some very harsh and brutal sections. The band does a great job in creating very well timed speedups that nicely contrast the passivity of the general flow of things.

The last track, “Spawn of a Lower Star” immediately starts with punishing growls and very melancholic riffs. This track feels a bit heavier and more hectic than the first two, giving the release quite a diverse pace and showcasing the band’s abilities to make diverse and quite moody music. Our favorite part is the very dramatic and bleak-feeling outro section of this track, quite an intense closing experience.

If you are a Funeral Doom or Death Doom fan, you will completely love this monumental release. Being very elusive and hard to find, it is nearly impossible to find the band’s previous releases so be sure to pick up a copy of this very special LP. Also, if you are in the area, be sure to check out a very rare live appearance by the band at Stella Natura 2013, in the wilderness of Tahoe National Forest this September 2013.

Label: Pesanta Urfolk

Release: August 16th, 2013

Genre: Funeral Doom Metal

Country: USA