(written by Islander)
On June 20th the Los Angeles-based one-man black metal band Morningstvr will release the second album in a planned trilogy. Its name is A Fate Engraved, and it follows from its predecessor, In Memoriam of the Blvck Wind.
As Morningstvr explains, it “tells of a land far to the north of the world, with cold and abysmal ranges covered in snow, ancient structures of an empire from a forgotten age, much like in the image of the medieval period, continuing the tales of Slavic witchcraft, knights charging their last battles, betrayal, heartbreak and rituals upon a full moon,” and thus references Tolkien’s legendarium.
As for the music itself, Morningstvr describes it as “if (early) Darkthrone had a love child with Verses in Oath by Hulder and Kaer Morhen by Hekseblad.” We have a more tangible demonstration of the music today as we premiere a music video for the new album’s final track “Whispers of a Nameless Fear.”
Morningstvr provides this comment about the song:
Taking a line from the intro dialogue to Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the outro track of the album brings forth the themes of a dark fall, creating a more atmospheric sense, giving a taste of what the next album shall entail; the lyrical content consists of how I find peace in certain atmospheric settings and specific parts of the year, its ending with strong winds gives the listeners an eerie sense of what is to come next.
Morningstvr has also described the album as a venture into a “frozen hell,” and in line with that “Whispers of a Nameless Fear” is a chilling, spectral song, but equal parts harrowing and haunting in the unearthly musical visions it spawns.
In its opening phase a conjunction of riffing and keys immerses the listener in a searing and eerily wailing shroud of sound. The music strangely shimmers and quivers, and a host of wraithlike voices seem to cry out their anguish above booming bass drums and tumbling tom progressions, while Morningstvr adds his own vicious screams.
But as previewed, the music is also haunting, shifting into an almost pastoral, orchestrally influenced melody, beautiful but melancholy in its mood. Yet the music again expands, those sounds of celestial voices rise, the drums rumble, and the scorching screams pierce through. At the finale, sounds of wind and distant storm, and of frightening screeches, draw this chilling song to a chilling close.
To pre-order and pre-save the album on digital platforms, check the links below. Also below, we’re sharing music videos for two other previously released songs from the album, “Dethroned” and “The Last of the Northern Kingdoms”.
And lastly, we’ll add that Morningstvr is about to embark on an album release tour. For dates and places, see the flyer below following the other videos.
PRE-ORDER / PRE-SAVE:
https://morningstvrmusic.bandcamp.com/album/a-fate-engraved
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/morningstvr/a-fate-engraved-2/
FOLLOW:
https://linktr.ee/morningstvr
https://www.facebook.com/MorningstvrMusic
