Merrimack – Grey Rigorism (2009)

Merrimack is a French Black Metal band that while not extremely ‘known in the scene’, they manage to create a good album with “Grey Rigorism”. After 3 years of releasing their best album to date “Of Entropy And Life Denial” the band is here trying to recapture their momentum, but they just achieve other album just like “Of Entropy And Life Denial” and nothing more.

The quality of “Grey Rigorism” is unquestionable and the band is very good at writing songs and creating a very malevolent atmosphere. If this is the first album you have heard of the band it will surely blow you away. The band creates a very balanced mix of BM that includes fast tremolo picked parts and some less intense more rhythmic parts, like many BM bands are doing these days, particularly Marduk.

The guitar work of the album like I mentioned is a rollercoaster ride between fast and slower paced passages. While not having the most original sound, the band is clearly one of the best out of the French scene. The overall production of the album showcases most details of the music to perfection, however the drumming is pretty dull and lifeless, but I really don’t know if it’s the production or the band’s current sound.

The vocals on the album are pretty good since they are not too Death Metal-like and not to high pitched, providing a good balance to the overall experience. In the 10 tracks of this album the band uses several things that made this album memorable out of all the stacks of BM album I’m currently reviewing, these things where the monologues of spoken French in some tracks, and the female spoken part on the last song. They also have a pretty intense 13 minute closing song that does not get boring at all, a very impressive feat for a BM band in my opinion.

Clocking over one hour of music, “Grey Rigorism” is an album that from start to finish will have your attention and will clearly satisfy your BM needs, I sure hope this band starts getting more recognition, especially after their US Fall 2009 tour with Marduk and others.

Release: August 25, 2009

Country: France