ALBUM REVIEW: Jord – Møl
Ever since DEAFHEAVEN became the darlings of critics and fans alike, the melding of black metal and shoegaze has no longer seemed like an odd concoction and has instead been embraced with open (if at times slightly begrudging) arms. It’s no surprise then that Jord, the new record from artistic Danish powerhouse MØL, has been one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year so far. The fact that the quintet have recently signed to Holy Roar Records ramps up the expectation to a whole extra level, with the label looking to continue its stellar run of form that has included exceptional releases from EMPLOYED TO SERVE, CONJURER and ROLO TOMASSI amongst others.
Does Jord sit comfortably alongside that kind of company then? Well it certainly comes tearing out of the gates at a rate of knots, with opening track Storm sweeping you up in a maelstrom of atmospheric instrumentals before slamming you down to earth with an unholy cacophony of visceral black metal. The quality steps up another notch on Penumbra, as bludgeoning, decimating blasts of metal are interwoven perfectly with swirling shoegaze passages, leading to perhaps the best example of how this sub-genre has the potential to be one of the most glorious and expansive strands of the alternative scene.
While the comparisons to the likes of DEAFHEAVEN and ALCEST are obvious, Jord also incorporates subtle nods to a huge array of other bands and styles, from the SLOWDIVE-esque soaring, evocative instrumentals of Bruma, to the GOJIRA-like opening notes of Virga. This blend of genres never feels forced or out of place, with each influence feeling like an intrinsic, vital piece of the larger puzzle that carries the record forward to greater and greater heights.
The composition of this album also elevates it above anything else you’d care to mention; every turn of pace followed by a sorrowful lament, every rumbling blast of the very blackest metal giving way to an uplifting chorus. These changes of tempo are so well thought out that nothing ever becomes jarring, even on the moments that have no right to live harmoniously alongside one another. The best example of this comes halfway through the record, with the delicate slow build of Lambda soon replaced by a shattering, suffocating slab of extreme metal in the form of Ligament.
It’s in the moments of relative calm however that this album truly excels. Joyous yet foreboding, soaring yet remorseless, the guitars and drums come together in a harmonious blend of poetic majesty that manages to paint a beautifully evocative landscape that always shows glimpses of dark clouds on the horizon. When these clouds lurch into view they are utterly merciless, unleashing ferocious blast beats and some of the most piercing vocals you could ever wish to hear.
This is one of those rare records that will leave you stunned after the very first listen, yet its full, intoxicating glory only reveals itself once you’ve allowed yourself to become fully immersed in its hauntingly stark yet irrepressibly delectable world. It’s at times a savage, uncompromising beast that twists and turns with reckless abandon, and at others a tranquil masterpiece of shoegaze that carries you away into the aether with a real sense of ethereal grace.
Even in a year that has already offered up some stunning records, Jord stands head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. This record should be commended by all corners of the metal spectrum for its sheer ambition and scope alone, but when you consider that every single track is as glorious as anything on offer in the world of black metal or shoegaze, it beggars belief that such a record has even been possible to create. There are very few bands who will ever come close to achieving what MØL have managed here, and even fewer who will pull it off at the first attempt. Jord may not just be the best debut record of 2018 – it might just end up being the best record of the year full stop.
Rating: 10/10
Jord is set for release on April 13th via Holy Roar Records.
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