(written by Islander)
The Polish band MROME have been making music since the mid-’90s, first under the name Kingdom. As MROME, they’ve released four albums so far, most of which we’ve paid attention to (as you can see here), and now we’re very happy to report that a fifth one is on the way.
The newest one, Boneyard Twist, includes 9 tracks recorded live in the studio, and the band have described it to us as “a kind of return to our dark roots from the early ’90s, inspired deeply by the first wave black metal.” Lyrically, they tell us the songs deal “with grave residents, disabilities of body and mind, necromancy and …monks exploding!”
As a sign of what the new album brings, today we premiere a lyric video for a song named “Aristocrat” — or at least we have tried to premiere it!
Our best efforts to make this premiere have been defeated by YouTube, which in their infinite wisdom have decided to shackle it with an age restriction, so you’ll have to go there and sign in to see it.
Why is it age-restricted? Well, it’s not because of the various film excerpts that provide fitting scenes as a backdrop to the words. Rather, it’s more likely the words themselves — which provide a vividly profane depiction of decadent and depraved aristocrats as they have always existed through the ages, culminating in a closing message that’s still quite relevant today.
But though it takes a bit more effort than usual to partake in this premiere, you definitely should go watch and listen.
As the wretched, self-destructive narrator describes the repulsiveness of his predilections and murderous perversions in gritty snarls and maddened howls (which are all frightening), the riffing goes off in menacing fanfares and vividly rings like sinister chimes, backed by rumbling and grumbling bass lines that are equally menacing.
No blast-beats here, but hard-rocking snare-strikes of varying speeds that will get muscles moving (that said, MROME have always been groovesome). Those beats add to the song’s aura of feral lustfulness and pernicious appetites, and chords that slash and swarm also enhance the song’s head-moving power, as well as its atmosphere of sinister depravity and its compelling catchiness.
Compared to some of MROME‘s past music, you could say this song is “stripped down,” primal in its compulsiveness, food for the reptile brain. Go enjoy it here:
MROME is:
Key V – guitars
Ataman Tolovy – vocals, synthesizer, lyrics
P. – drums
The video was made by Piekłoniebo. The author of the painting used on the album’s front cover is Mateusz Gawęda, but all was designed by Ataman Tolovy. Boneyard Twist will be released on June 23rd, digitally and on tape by NRA. It will soon be available for order at this location, where you can also explore MROME‘s previous works: