Marras - Where Light comes to Die

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When dealing with the “Old School” label, fans and writers must be careful, because it can cause confusion on the minds of someone. That’s why to call a musical movement as Second Wave, Third Wave or so on has a better understanding. So it’s easy to call Finnish quintet MARRAS’ work as Second Wave of Black Metal, as “Where Light Comes to Die” states. It’s not deeply linked to what Finnish Black Metal bands did back on the 90s (the years of the Second Wave), because even being crude and funereal, it bears some influences from Norwegian and Swedish Black Metal schools, on names as DARKTHRONE, BURZUM, early MARDUK works and others. But it doesn’t mean that their musical work has no identity, it’s the opposite: their somber (due some keyboards’ parts) and charming raw sound bears a personal appeal, and for fans of SWOBM, it’s truly perfect.

As many can presume, the sound quality is near of that blood dripping rawness of the past, but with the idea that the listeners must understand what is being played. So it has all the elements and ambience of the early works of the genre in the beginning of the 90’s, but in a comprehensible way. Hearing “Where Light Comes to Die” is like opening a casket, so be prepared, because the aggressive tempos of “Overture of the Lonely Journey” (very good tempos and ambiances), the bitter and lashing cold guitar riffs of “Lifeless Sculptures”, the moldy Black Metal feeling that “Sea of Trees” bears, the harsh melancholic melodies of “Where Light Comes to Die”, and the aggressive and nasty approach of “Chamber of Penance” are proofs that SWOBM form of playing will last for eternity.

The quintet can mature a bit more, but “Where Light Comes to Die” really shows that MARRAS that has a lot to offer, because their music transpires integrity and honesty.

Musicianship: 7
Songwriting: 9
Memorability: 8
Production: 7