Murmuure: Murmuure

Well, folks, I kind of forgot about this website for a few months as I was busy with schoolwork, so sorry about that. Nevertheless, Kvlt Clutter is back in business! That’s why it’s a perfect time for me to review Murmuure’s self-titled album, which symbolizes the spirit of rejuvenation and rebirth. From the skeleton on the album cover, which can be seen as a symbol of death giving way to new life, to the tranquil sounds of nature throughout the music, Murmuure's album encapsulates the essence of being born again. The intricate compositions and ambient sounds weave a narrative of shedding old layers and emerging anew, much like how Kvlt Clutter is experiencing its own renewal. We’re back, baby!

Nearly every track on this record begins with a glistening ambient atmosphere complete with bird chirps and other sounds of nature, before surrendering to a wall of noise that slowly engulfs all of the other sounds. Yet, the gorgeous glimmers of electronic and ambient still manage to shine through the harsh and chaotic noise present. The fusion of black metal and ambient is also intriguing - in fact, in my opinion, this album is more of an ambient album than it is a black metal album. The blending of these two genres contributes even further to its beauty, and somehow makes it both ethereal and chaotic.

The record dives into a spring-like atmosphere with Primo Vere, literally meaning “early spring” in Latin. All at once, we are exposed to what will be contained within the entirety of the album: the ambient, the noise, and eventually, around the 2- or 3-minute mark, we hear the first drops of black metal fall onto the sound’s surface. Chaos ensues: the drumming is frenzied and chaotic, following bizarre time signatures, the guitar playing sounds nearly atonal. Still, below this, a layer of the peaceful electronics there were 3 minutes ago remain.

The track after continues in a similar fashion until Torch Bearer starts playing. Here, we are shrouded by a blanket of tranquil electronics highlighted by chirping crickets, which evoke images of summer nights, tall grass, and fireflies. No black metal touches the surface of this track: it is entirely devoid of chaos.

The subsequent song, Amethyst, is my personal favorite. It opens with a beautiful cloud of ambience, this time adorned with a gorgeous flute melody. When the track finally starts to sound like black metal, the style is not nearly as harsh as in the previous tracks. The drums hold a consistent rhythm, and the guitars are much more melodic than before, allowing this song to fully express its inner beauty.

Unfortunately, I believe the last two tracks ever so slightly do not hold up as well as the first four, making it just short of a 10. I cast a rating of 9/10.