Band:	Mortifera
Album:	Bleüu De Morte
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	November 2013

01. Asphyxii De Couleur Bleüu
02. Scintille Comme Le Froid
03. Prison De Marbre
04. Night Eternal
05. Les Vents De La Mélancolie
06. Triste Spectre
07. Chute Invisible
08. Désespoir
09. La Forêt De Ronces
10. Souvenirs Macabres

So Mortifera released a new album...

It isn't your fault if you either haven't heard of this one-man black metal project or assumed it dissolved after Vastiia Tenebrd Mortifera came out back in 2004. Who markets this stuff? Certainly not Monsieur Mendre, aside from maybe whispering about it to a close friend or two... and then killing them before they can spread the word.

Here's what you need to know about the one-man thing.

Some French guy by the name of Neige (you probably haven't heard of him) founded this insanely underground shoegaze-infused black metal project called Alcest (you probably haven't heard of it) and later collaborated with Noktu Geiistmort, the most well-known black metal artist in the history of the genre for the release of VTM, leaving shortly after its release.

Now here's what you need to know about the music thing.

If you were one of the three people who listened to (and very much disliked) Maledictiih, allow Bleüu de morte to restore your faith in Mendre's abilities. After all, we're well aware of his work with Celestia. Right? Guys?

Anyway...

This album caters to fans of depressive black metal, so right off the bat you can expect raspy black metal shrieks, pummeling blastbeats, haunting melodies, and a somber atmosphere. It offers an effective balance of straightforward extremity and daunting harmony. Those raspy vocals you're expecting are somewhat buried in the mix, even fuzzy in their delivery. This is not atypical of a Mortifera release, although there is a welcoming quality about them that did not exist on previous works.

At times, especially in the latter half of the album, things slow down to a doom-like pace, focusing more on the lighthearted side of wanting to kill yourself. The first half starts off with you pulling the trigger to a shotgun aimed at your head, moving on to the splitting of a major vein or two, and concluding with something far less messy. Like freezing to death in the middle of a forest at night. The story could have been told better with the lighter material at the beginning, capping it off with the energy of the first half of the album, but that's more of a personal matter.

It's a rather brief journey, lasting about 40 minutes. There aren't any 15-minute epics or 20-minute drone tracks, and the interludes are few and far between. As I said, it's kept fairly straightforward, and the songwriting is by no means technically proficient. There are hints of Vastiia Tenebrd Mortifera, but the clearer production this time around detracts from the raw emotions on display.

If you're looking for another depressive black metal release to enjoy, this goes down easy. But if you're on the search for something innovative, something that pushes the envelope a little, keep it moving.