ALBUM REVIEW: Engraved With Pain – Morne

Since their beginning and release of their 2009 debut Untold Wait, Boston quartet MORNE have been tricky to label. For those seeking to categorise their music, the band could come under the likes of doom, sludge or even post-metal. In truth, they are all these things and more besides. Their songwriting is enthralling and the progressive layers that they build take inspiration from all aspects of metal. There is however, a clarity and accessibility to what on the face of it sounds like a swirling pot of influences. 2018’s To The Night Unknown gave us a hint of the compositional evolution of MORNE, yet felt like there was still more to come. Engraved With Pain is four tracks of majestic, heavyweight metal that fulfils the promise of what the band have alluded to in previous releases.

Opening with the title track, we’re greeted with an intense, foreboding soundscape. The unsettling effects create an enticing atmosphere for the beginning of the album. Layers gradually build, with percussive elements increasing the discomfort. Once it kicks in proper, we are treated to an absorbing track that relies heavily on doom-laced riffs supported by a well-mixed rhythm section providing an imperious weight. The guttural vocals only serve to add to this overwhelming weight. It is executed perfectly and those familiar with MORNE will welcome this introduction as an element of their best work. For the record it serves as the perfect opening, providing a taste of what is to come.

For a record of only four tracks, Engraved With Pain is enthralling from start to finish and makes it seem there is a lot more music on offer without any one of the tracks sounding too overblown. The four-piece have managed to fit in so many elements and the guitar melody work featured throughout, especially on the closing track, is superb. While there are so many elements and techniques being deployed, it would be very easy to oversaturate the music. Fortunately, that is not the case; each track has a feeling of space enabling everything to work together in service of the music.

Lead single Wretched Empire represents a more straight down the line metal track. The shortest on the album, it’s a riff driven rage monster rallying against the divisions of humanity and visions of collapse in the current world situation. It strips back a lot of the textual layering found on the other tracks but still fits the profile of MORNE perfectly and adds an extra dimension to the overall album. The crushing groove is sure to leave many a sore neck when they take this one to the live environment.

While no one could class Engraved With Pain as an optimistic album – the title alone rules that out – it is nevertheless a triumph for MORNE. It takes all the elements that they’ve been expressing for years and provides a culmination of their compositional talents. It will certainly be interesting to see where they go from here as Engraved With Pain is a very powerful statement. It’s raw and honest, yet the production and musicianship keep the tracks approachable and utterly compelling.

Rating: 9/10

Engraved With Pain is set for release on November 3rd via Metal Blade Records.

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