CoC : Mork Gryning - Maelstrom Chaos : Review

Mork Gryning - _Maelstrom Chaos_
(No Fashion, 2002)
by: Aaron McKay (6.5 out of 10)

I'll be honest, I have had precious little exposure to Mork Gryning's earlier material. Most of what I -have- heard comes from casual contact with the band's efforts and whatnot. _Maelstrom Chaos_ grabbed me from a patently vibrant standpoint, I will confess. This trio -- comprised of Goth Gorgon (keyboards, guitars, lead/backing vocals), Draakh Kimera (drums, lead/backing vocals, guitars and keyboards) and Avatar (lead/rhythm guitars and backing vocals) -- inspired a similar, but admittedly less potent tone, as The Abyss upon cursory listens. Subsequently, I'd have to say the wicked skillful guitar Mork Gryning employs invokes feelings of an In Flames or A Canorous Quintet meets Old Man's Child (another personal favorite -- especially _Pagan Prosperity_). After harvesting exposure from greats like Dan Swano and Tomas Skogsberg on earlier efforts, Mork Gryning pushed forward into the grasp of unadulterated confusion with their newest effort _Maelstrom Chaos_. If you think you've heard it all, I'm sure this outfit can make a believer out of even the staunchest critic with _MC_'s eleven excruciating tacks of bewilderment. Few will doubt Mork Gryning's power on _Maelstrom Chaos_, I'd think, but with a lack of overindulgent melody, with "My Fiends" at track six being an exception, this band is heading in a more intensely searing direction -- not wholly unenjoyable, but not their strongest suit either. Consuming in its raw energy, I'd say more songs to the contrary like "My Friends" and "The Darkness Within" would secure Mork Gryning a much more visible seat on the black metal dais where I'd prefer them to be.

(article published 12/4/2002)

ALBUMS
9/11/2005	J Smit	7.5	Mork Gryning - Mork Gryning
11/10/1996	D Schinzel	9	Mork Gryning - Tusen Ar Har Gatt