This is a very interesting debut and one that has a real air of intrigue and mystery about it. For a start, although the band are Polish, I would not have necessarily identified them as such if it had not been for song titles, lyrics and the label this is on; musically it gives nothing away. The Poles are well renowned for brutal death and as far as black metal is concerned quite notable at the symphonic style. This is far from either and is more melancholic, off kilter and even at times bizarre affair; it is nothing in the way of similar to the likes of Profanum either before you start thinking along those lines. The trio behind the group have played in the likes of Massemord (Pol) Ulcer Uterus and Infatuation Of Death; none of them household names as far as I was concerned and I really had no idea what to expect from this before pressing play.
It would be a bit pointless copy and pasting the eight track titles and describing things song by song but as the keyboard intro swirls in the air is heavy with mysticism. I could guess that the album title may translate as ‘Enter the labyrinth of the devil’ and that is very much what this is akin to. Tortured howls perpetuate the background getting louder as strident guitars cut in and harmonically we go into a passage that reminds of Ved Buens Ende. There is plenty of atmosphere about this, the stop/start fashion of the guitars and bass works well and the melody and juxtaposed rhythm is ever changing. There is a strong avant-garde sensibility at play here it and a cold Norske feel has been well and truly reinterpreted here in a unique fashion. Vocals go from clean to snarling and often are layered up to have a possessed sound behind them along with quieter gurgles and sounds of choking in the background. Some of the guitar riffing actually reminds a bit of Dodheimsgard and there is that unhinged in league with Satan feel flowing through this at times.
Having said this though, it’s one of those albums that is pretty damn hard to describe and the best way you could get clearer defined ideas about it is to actually go give it a listen yourself. Just to confound that idea, this is a band seemingly with neither homepage nor MySpace. That may well sound like a cop out but it just goes to show that Morowe are doing something beyond the norm. Twisting and turning guitar work and devilish vocals all work together bringing sinister and arcane ritualistic moods to play; this is really music for the night, lit by candles and plumes of fog and mist. It would seem the label have a limited vinyl version as well as special digi CD, patch and shirt pack. No idea how popular Morowe are at home but as this album plays out all I can say is there is plenty going for them making this worthy of seeking out.
http://www.witchinghour.pl
http://www.myspace.com/witchinghourprod
