Year: 2020
Total Time: 47:40
Label: AFM Records
“Mors Principium Est”. Death is the beginning or…the basis or…the ruler. The experienced Melodeathsters, after 21 years of existence and six full length records are still covered with the Gothenburg layer and grant us with Swedish melodies, although singer Ville Viljanen is Finnish and the guitarist, multiplayer Andy Gillion, comes from Yorkshire. “Seven” is their seventh record and follows 2017’s “Embers Of A Dying World”.
I would say that “Seven” is the natural next step after “Embers” and this can be understandable just by listening to MORS PRINCIPIUM EST trademark. Riffs, riffs and yet more riffs, a violent storm which starts with the opening track “A Day For Redemption”, softens a little somewhere in the middle with ‘Reverence” and keeps on pounding until the last notes of “My Home, My Grave”. There are, of course, the essential references to DARK TRANQUILITY, CHILDREN OF BODOM, IN FLAMES and SOILWORK among others, but at the same time there is a sense of progressiveness and an effort of musical autonomy via the import of modern elements. Fatally, this effort of musical autonomy and originality ends up being a purpose, sometimes it can sound like supersonic Euro Power Metal, which obviously is not so pleasant for a Death Metal fan. The razor sharp guitars, the aggressive vocals, the electronic stressful keyboards and drums, which sound a little bit plastic due to the modern production, are the main characteristics of “Seven”. There are of course some calmer moments just for the listener to have a rest, but the fact is that the listener should be impressed by the rich orchestration, the constant changes of tempo and the fresh and modern production, mixed with brutal old school elements.
Speaking of production, the mixing and mastering took place in Panic Room, Sweden, by the long time fellow Thomas Plec Johansson, which is well known for his collaboration with SOILWORK, OPETH, WATAIN, NIGHTFLIGHT ORCHESTRA, MAYHEM, EREB ALTOR, FIREWIND, to name some groups, while, at the same time, the group feels ready with the addition of new live musicians to perform their new songs for the upcoming European tour in 2021.
MORS PRINCIPIUM EST decided to play safe this time, following the steps of ‘Embers” without taking too much risk, except from the Euro-Power elements that reduced my excitement for their upcoming release. This is the only disadvantage for my ears. Anyway, they still remain powerful, dynamic and fresh, being one of the most important groups of the new MeloDeath scene, balancing successfully between old school and modern metal.
Rating: 7/10
Editor: Dimos Karadimos
Related Link: MORS PRINCIPIUM EST – Official Page
