Kev Rowland Formed in 2005, Morne is a heavy, atmospheric band based in Boston, Massachusetts. Their style blends doom metal and classic British crust but stretches beyond those boundaries, combining a bleak lyrical style with driving riffs. They have obviously been influenced by early Neurosis, and there is a frostiness to the music which is more often associated with raw black metal. This isn’t friendly doom by any stretch of the imagination, with riffs that hammer into the brain, and solos that are sometimes so quiet that they can hardly be heard, adding tinges of funeral-like melody to proceedings.

It is some five years since their last album, but they are well and truly back with a bang. There are times when they allow the music to swell and extend, but this isn’t a dirge that seems to last forever, but instead is music with a purpose. The drums are hard and heavy, yet also have a lightness that moves the music away from the bass and guitar which dominate the lower registers. There is always the feeling of the guys being in total control of what they are undertaking, with a purpose and direction, as opposed to some of the more meandering funereal doom bands around. This is dramatic stuff, and there is no doubt that it is one of the most exciting releases from a band within the doom genre for quite some time. Miss this at your peril.