Madder Mortem‘s Old Eyes, New Heart is one of those records. A piece that released early in 2024, but for some reason always kept harassing us at the back of our mutual subconscious. The band has been around since 1997 under the current moniker, but for some reason, the act never clicked with the RMR crew here. Well, let’s just blame it on the inconsistent release schedule, shall we? The last record aired back in 2018 after all.
But what really and always pulled us back from launching a all-out review were the glowing reviews this piece got from other contenders out there. And that, for some reason, didn’t sync with what we were hearing. So, here we are with yet another fake n00b record from an otherwise established band, and this time not from the murky realms of Extreme Metal. Far from it.
One thing is certain, though. Madder Mortem seem to be a tad underrated, and some of that appears to be home-made. Case in point, when yours truly tried to hit up their website, suddenly all threat alarms let loose over at the IT department. Meaning, maintenance might have been lacking and some bad guy might have slipped a piece or two of malignant code in. And that’s bad for marketing. But this is also consistent with some rumors we picked up about the band. Hearsay has it that their concern is not the pursuit of big stages and lavish world tours. Instead, their music is their focus.
And that is exactly how Old Eyes, New Heart comes across. A record filled with a bunch of songs made by seasoned musicians having fun doing it. This puts them into the pig-headed arena of things, and that is directly up our alley. Kinda somewhere up there with the French acolytes of the dirty motel, together with some of the artsier moves of this guy here. Artists whose concern isn’t to be consistent with the dictates of genres and styles. Instead, the band presents a funky blend of alternative, progressive, and, yes, gothic rock and metal. And some of that stuff is bordering on the psychedelic outright.
The RMR crew found the underlying gothic melancholy on Old Eyes, New Heart compelling and even – at times – endearing. And interestingly, Madder Mortem won’t just go on a storytelling tangent, but instead will artfully integrate the gloomy atmosphere into expert progressive forays, some out-of-control riff fests included. Yet, the songsmithing just finds the right balance of all these different influences without trying to beat the modern prog masters. Instead, they’re heading into their very own direction.
Agnete M. Kirkevaag‘s clear voice vocals serve as the perfect emotive incubator throughout the record. And I daresay that she comes across as one of the most versatile metal singers this crew has encountered so far. Thus, the band is driven by the perfect tag team. Agnete at the helm, ahem, the mic. And her brother – BP M. Kirkevaag – on guitars, with both of them heavily invested in the songwriting. In addition, the production sounds great overall. The mix chiselled the meaty guitars out well with the vocals proudly coexisting side-by-side. The RMR crew liked the powerful hum of the bass and the crunchy drumwork that rounds up the rest.
So, what’s there not to love on Old Eyes, New Heart? Well, sometimes this whole shebang feels a tad overproduced. The record exudes those slightly sticky vibes of a piece that got stuffed like a turkey with – everything that came to mind. This not only led to a slightly lengthy playtime but also to an overly intense delivery. Melancholy pieces positively scream for some delicate filigree that is still sturdy enough to slake that metal thirst. But here, I always got the impression that the songs lack the necessary room to breathe. In addition, the last 2-3 tracks seriously bled oomph and traction. And that is a pity, indeed.
So, ultimately, the RMR crew won’t chime in on the siren song of praise many have showered Old Eyes, New Heart with. Make no mistake, this is an astute, well-executed, and technically outstanding record. And it truly hovers on the brink of greatness. But the act will need to work on delivering steady quality and lighten the load a bit. And it is then that the RMR crew will chime in on the chants of worship that others already embarked on.
Record Rating: 6/10 | Label: Dark Essence Records | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 26 January 2024