Offspring of Gathered Foulness

Of the countless number of bands coming out of Sweden’s black metal “woodwork” (many of which fail to gather any acclaim, or should), we have the little known horde of Myrkr. I first noticed this group after investing some time into listening to some of Drakkar’s artists. In 2005, I found myself impressed by the track “Nine Blades of Surtr”, from their first demo, Rekwiz. It was also at this time, that I found “Offspring of Gathered Foulness” available (as well as the hoodie I can be seen in before).

Myrkr is comprised of Vordr, who is the “breath”, while Gast provides their “ritual atmosphere”. Most of the band’s themes revolve around Dark Germanic Heathenism, which is a form of anti-cosmic occult belief that is centered in Norse and German mythology. The rest of the lyrics wish to behold the universe in the grotesque birth of its own death, in all of its chaotic and black detail. The lyrics recall many Norse themes:

“Swallow the sun, swallow the moon” (a reference to Fenrir, the son of Loki, whose children swallow both the sun and moon)

“Gnaw the limbs of the tree” (a reference to Jormungandr, a giant snake wrapped around the tree that holds all of the upper and lower worlds together in Norse mythology, who succeeds in doing so in Ragnarok as well)

“Painting a Thurisaz with your blood” (a Thurisaz is a rune)

Musically, Myrkr is not some extravagant technicality or marvel to behold, however, their works are completely solid, and I find their production, as well as the brief dark ritualistic atmospheres as something to contemplate. Myrkr is very mid-paced, with somewhat grainy guitars, and well balanced drums. The musical essence is very rhythm driven, and they make very good use of the tremolo riffs contained therein. In songs like “Deadly Winds and Paralyzing Cold”, there is a ghastly hallucinatory effect that combined with the conjuring oratory of Vordr, I find to be very fitting to their works. Other atmospheres of otherworldly darkness and what I call “evicerative” worlds I find well round out the listening experience.

If you are looking for some knock-your-socks-off black metal, I’d suggest you find something else. Even as an EP, I find it somewhat short, but in time, I have found it fulfilling. However, if you like simple, yet solid nihilistic black metal, or perhaps you find your interests in anti-cosmic or any other occult practices, this might be a somewhat obscure band to absorb.