The Italian occultist Mortuary Drape is back once again to teach us a lesson in the dark arts!
Since forming in 1986 Mortuary Drape is one of the leading bands in carving out the blackened metal sound. Taking influence from the titans like Mercyful Fate & Celtic Frost the band built their sound by incorporating the early black sound with the classic dark heavy metal sound to craft their own unholy signature sound.
1992 saw their first official EP surface with “Into the Drape”.
This was followed by the debut full-length album, the classic “All the Witches Dance” in 1994. Since then Mortuary Drape has been revered for their influential and pioneering work in the firm establishment of global black metal.
Now with their first full album on Peaceville & their follow-up to 2022’s EP ‘Wisdom – Vibration – Repent” the band are unleashing a new ritual in the form of “Black Mirror”.
Opening the album with a solo piano is “Restless Death”.
As band leader Wildness Perversion vocals slowly creep over the pianos playing. With intensity building the band erupts & the song truly begins. A fast rocking track with blistering lead guitar work from D.C. & S.R. As the track’s chorus section hits it feels large & hard-hitting. A proper blackened fist thrower here.
Dripping in that blackened sound of “Ritual Unction” is a real delight.
The work between bassist S.C. & M.T. is strong here. Both of them pull the track forward & keep its forward momentum as the guitars play stadium metal-like hard riffs & blazing lead sections. This track is on fire. A black flame if you will.
A track such as “Into The Oblivion” shows off one of Mortuary Drape’s best skills. They are able to build an atmosphere unlike no other. The eerie begin of the track really pulls you in as a listener but as the track starts with that hard-hitting sound they are still able to keep that atmospheric sound with the use of the right choice of guitar chords & songwriting structures. This track feels like one that is very deeply rooted in that Mercyful Fate influence but through an MD lens which gives it that amazing sound they so effortlessly create.
Later on the second half of the album “Mistress of Sorcerer” really showcases the top-notch musicians Wildness Perversion has gathered for this release. The technical ability they have for such a melodic opening section full of beautiful clean guitars then transiting into the tight, fast palm muting guitars & fast drumming to create a very tight, thick almost thrash sound within the track but still cloaked in the dark & grimy MD sound.
Closing & title track “Black Mirror” feels like the band’s most expensive ritual on the album. Building the tension & ambience well as the track opens with fantastic lead solo work over beautifully played clean guitar. The drums hit hard in a tribal-like manor.
Wildness Perversion’s vocal performance on this track is magnificent & really helps the tracks last few moments leave a lasting impression.
Mortuary Drape’s sound is unmatched. And what they have been able to do within “Black Mirror” is build on an already amazing discography but add so much technical ability & creative song writing through these albums live up to perform one of Mortuary Drape’s most sonically dark but mesmerising albums ever.
Review: Joseph Mitchell
Black Mirror is out via Peaceville Records on 3rd November 2023
MORTUARY DRAPE IS :
Wildness Perversion: Vocals
D.C. : Lead Guitar
S.R. : Lead Guitar
S.C. : Bass
M.T. : Drums
Black Mirror track listing:
- Restless Death [06:20]
- The Secret Lost [03:25]
- Ritual Unction [04:21]
- Drowned In Silence [04:43]
- Into The Oblivion [03:31]
- Rattle Breath [04:31]
- Nocturnal Coven [04:08]
- Mistress of Sorcerer [05:13]
- The Unburied [04:17]
- Fading Flowers Spell [04:42]
- Black Mirror [03:07]
The album was recorded and mixed and mastered by Federico Pennazzato at TMH Studios in Alessandria, Italy with engineering coming from Pennazzato, DC, and Wildness Perversion and the artwork comes courtesy of Misanthropic Art (www.misanthropic-art.com)
The album will be released on grey vinyl and CD as well as being available digitally. Pre-order here https://mortuarydrape.lnk.to/Black_Mirror
The band will be performing select dates in Autumn this year:
- 27 October – Prague Death Mass IV – Meet Factory – Czech Republic
- 18 November – Florence Metal – Viper – Florence – Italy
- 30 December – Slaughter – Milan – Italy
Hi-res images available on Mortuary Drape’s media page – www.peaceville.com/media/mortuarydrape
MORTUARY DRAPE IS :
Wildness Perversion: Vocals
D.C. : Lead Guitar
S.R. : Lead Guitar
S.C. : Bass
M.T. : Drums
ABOUT MORTUARY DRAPE
Cult band Mortuary Drape was formed in Italy in 1986 as a trio, including the long-standing/sole-remaining member, band founder and visionary Wildness Perversion. Highly inspired by the dark arts & combining early influences from bands such as Mercyful Fate & Celtic Frost, Mortuary Drape developed their own unique style, defining themselves as black occult metal & releasing the demo ‘Necromancy’ in 1987 which spread their name throughout the underground; though it was not until 1992 that their first official release surfaced, with ‘Into the Drape’. This was followed by the debut full-length album, the classic ‘All the Witches Dance’ in 1994. Since then Mortuary Drape has been revered for their influential and pioneering work in the firm establishment of global black metal.