Mortifera
Vastiia Tenebrd Mortifera

The French project Mortifera is the summary of the collaboration of two figures who certainly don't need any introduction in the Black Metal scene: I'm talking about Noktu Geiistmortt and Neige. The first is the mastermind of another very interesting project, Celestia (fresh from the reissue of their magnificent full-length "Apparitia-Sumptuos Spectre" for the Italian ATMF), as well as the head of Drakkar, a pure cult label of underground Black, which includes real bibles of the genre among its releases, such as the split between Torgeist and Vlad Tepes or "Remains Of A Ruined, Dead, Cursed Soul" by Mutiilation. In addition, he is involved in various external collaborations like Gestapo666 and Genocide Kommando; Neige is perhaps one of the most esteemed artists at the moment, given the recent release of various albums that demonstrate not only his quality as a musician but also a fundamental sincerity that can be captured from the many-faced dimensions their projects assume, all of extremely high caliber. With this premise, it would logically follow that the collaboration of artists of such caliber would result in a work above the norm, and fortunately, never more than in this case does logic teach us that sometimes the addition of two excellent factors leads to an excellent result even if this is easily predictable, but let's return to us.

Mortifera, although stylistically associable with the Black Metal matrix, deviate from it considerably, rejecting bargain satanism or gratuitous brutality, opting instead for structures with rarely maintained speeds, and for guitar lines devoted to proposing riffs through which a sensation of general melancholy and a romantic aura (I refer to the artistic movement) that, in my opinion, is one of the tools that French acts know how to wield best. Among the notes of the Franco duo, one can detect a malaise that insinuates itself into the guts and that is not easily found in other compositions, like a feeling of desolation that comes from the depths of the soul and is transmitted to the listener whether willing or not: and this is one of the strengths of the album, which like a delicate and discreet vortex drags you forcefully into a parallel dimension. The first track is a valid preamble that captures your hearing and prepares you for "Le Revenant", a monumental song against the background of the wonderful poetry of the same name by Charles Baudelaire: the riffs reach heights that bring the listener close to tears, the beautiful guitar arpeggios crown a vision of joys and tragedies, Neige's voice is indescribable, transmitting emotions so strong and intense that even the deaf would be able to perceive, letting themselves go to feelings full of a pleasant negativism and to a "mal de vivre" that strikes with a force as unheard of as it is delicate. The emotional oxymorons that arise from this work are almost unlikely, and forgive me for using such elliptical and seemingly exaggerated tones, but I’m sure my words do not deserve such epithets in front of a work like this. The third track, "A Last Breath Before Extinction", travels at less sustained rhythms but is nevertheless a composition that, in its calm and almost liturgical progression, levels out at very high standards. An acoustic interlude leads directly to "Ciel Brouillè", where Neige returns to enchant with vocals that verge on the most extreme despair. Following this is a track also present on the mini "Complainte D'Un Agonie Celeste," re-recorded but still beautiful, especially in the second part, where a spine-chilling riff gradually emerges. "Aux Confins De Tenebrss" deludes with an almost relaxing start, interrupted by piercing screams that seem like the cries of a chained soul, rattling in a dark cavern. In conclusion, there is "Fruits Of A Tragic End", a cover by Celestia, which shows a certain stylistic closeness between the two bands.

I don't think I need to add anything else... make this masterpiece yours.