It’s always a pleasure to get a package from dedicated doom-dealers Aesthetic Death, ran by an ex member of Esoteric. The label is one that proffers quality over quantity and the three releases we got this time around certainly illustrated that. I ended up with Murkrat which sold itself to me on a quick (well at 74 mins very long) spin, despite the fact I had never heard of the band. Before I got listening the cover artwork of Victoriana infanticide was instantly appealing (and appalling) and I wondered what on earth the music contained within could be like?
Starting out with ‘Believers’ we are into a quiet and mellow place at first before maudlin guitar wraps itself around slowly and quietly and then unexpected witchy female vocals full of rich yearning join in. A search leads to the discovery that Murkrat are a duo from New South Wales in Australia and this is their first full length. It actually is three long tracks but also includes their self released ‘Murky Ratmus’ demo from 2007 afterwards, so in essence we have everything released by the pair thus far. The slow pace of the first number really gets to you, along with the harmony and the somewhat organic sound, bolstered by an organ which really enriches the melody, mournfully ebbing and flowing. Yes I am a Believer! Musically ‘The Predatory Herd’ is baroque and bizarre thanks to the weird organ range and fuzzy guitar tones. Vocals are louder here and things are certainly more insistent. This centres much more on the doom than the drone although aspects of it are present and it bows you behind its weight into reverential worship. A couple of wilder shouts see singer Mandy V.K.S Cattleprod becoming more animated. Apparently she is largely responsible for what we hear as she also deals with keys, bass, guitar (not to mention much of the artwork) leaving Becky Nine-Iron to occasionally thud on the drum. Finishing this three pronged mournful congregation we have ‘Morality Slug’ another heady sermon for the damned with a downer, dirge-ridden feel about it. With music like this all I can say are ‘blessed are the damned,’ this is quality stuff and it’s no doubt designed to put the fear of god into you as he appears through the smoke of a dope cloud from the bong you are nodding off to. The austere organ sound here is fantastic too.
The five tracks of the Murky Ratmass demo are the icing on the cake. The opening discordance of instrumental ‘Blessed Are The Rats’ sets your teeth on edge and assaults like nails down a blackboard. ‘Alter – Nativity’ is no Christmas present but an offering from Satan’s fetid sack as it oozes slothfully out the speakers spreading vermin etched contagion. The vocals at their most volatile remind me of Cadaveria, which I find odd her being Italian but I guess it’s the witch like delivery behind them.
Despite the lengthy running time this has had a fair few plays and it’s a release I am very pleased to have got. The label has dug deep down under and unearthed some treasure that should be welcomed by fans of the more well known likes of Serpentcult, Jex Thoth and Electric Wizard. Let us pray!
http://www.myspace.com/murkrat
http://www.dust-to-dearth.com
http://freespace.virgin.net/aesthetic.death
