‘Ashes’ by Mörkdöd
‘Ashes’ by Mörkdöd
In a scene often characterized by nihilistic despair, Mörkdöd's Ashes emerges as a beacon of hope wrapped in the darkness of the sounds of depressive black metal. The Russian one-man project, formerly known as Morkerod and masterminded from Moscow, delivers a sophomore effort that transforms the conventions of depressive black metal into something profoundly redemptive while rejecting the more toxic and unconstructive elements of the subgenre.
What distinguishes Mörkdöd from contemporaries like Within Thy Wounds and Ghost Bath is the project's balance of despair and hope. While Ghost Bath wallows in atmospheric melancholy and Within Thy Wounds explores similar Christian themes with more traditional black metal aggression, Mörkdöd adopts the sound of DSBM but subverts its typically hopeless message. The somber tones and twinkling blackgaze-inspired bridges serve not as endpoints of despair but as vehicles for genuine spiritual transformation.
Ashes establishes its ecclesiastical outlook immediately with the opener "Crush Evil." It’s a brutal marching anthem that encapsulates the album's central tension. Etherium's guest guitar solo cuts through layers of heavily distorted dissonance while the track's militaristic rhythm evokes spiritual warfare made manifest. The lyrics, "Prepare your sword | To crush evil within | To embrace the truth | To a walk into deeps," set the tone for an album that confronts sin head-on while maintaining unwavering faith in redemption.
"Poenitentia" exemplifies this approach with its haunting synth work and crying samples that emphasize the raw vulnerability of confession. The track's lyrics, such as "Lord, have mercy | I left unforgiven | Glory doesn't | Shine to me | I trust to | Your judgement," capture the album's ecclesiastical focus on penitence and grace. Similarly, "Silence" employs haunting choirs to create an atmosphere of divine presence within the darkness, while "Relapse of Sin" utilizes the unsettling sound of clinking chains to underscore themes of spiritual bondage and liberation.
Μίλκα Φόβος's clean vocals on "On the Other Side" provide an ethereal counterpoint to the album’s harsh foundation, while Etherium's contributions on both "Crush Evil" and "Distant Corners of God" have melodic elements that enhance the music's emotional impact.
Ashes reaches its emotional zenith with "Forgiveness," where Mörkdöd's exploration of unworthiness transforms into desperate pleading: "Lord, Lord, Lord | Can you ever forgive me? | My little shard of soul | Still wants your love." The track is a standout, full journey from despair to hope, embodying the album's central message that even the most broken can find redemption.
Ashes is an excellent listen for devotees of Within Thy Wounds, early Antestor, and atmospheric black metal in general, but it will resonate with listeners seeking music that uplifts the human spirit while wrestling with themes of existential dread. The album stands as a testament and reminder that even in the deepest valleys of despair, there remains hope for redemption and renewal through divine grace.
