Mavradoxa - Nightmarrow

It is always such a great surprise when a band combines the old and the new with a very personal harsh, and some kind of, squeaky voice – in the good sense, my child of the night. Mavradoxa with “Nightmarrow” get very near what Cirith Ungol did in the 1980s. That’s the very first reminder that comes to my mind due to the strange, but yet exciting instrumentals and the aforementioned vocals. When I say strange I really don’t mean that instrumentals are awkward, it’s simply that they are out of the pattern. Not exactly out of the pattern, but it’s that one may find odd they way Mavradoxa play due to tha melodic, and yet, personal tones. Try at once “The Carrion Shade” and go right to its seven to eight minutes. The combination of the melodic, but thin tone will give you a great sample of what Mavradoxa mean.

Now I’ve got to write about the vocals just because they are really something. His voice is very, but very near Cirith Ungol’s Tim Baker very personal tone of voice. Though, Zach Smith’s tone is a bit more Black Metalish, of course, than Tim’s, yet the feeling is the same. When I listen to Mavradoxa Cirith Ungol come right away to my mind. This is such a cumpliment, guys! Check Cirith Ungol out and you’ll get what I’m trying to say. Compositions also help a lot to get this feeling because of their melodic and somewhat uncanny sonance. There is a 1970ish mood that fills up all the songs especially when it comes to the guitars tones.

“Nightmarrow” is an album that will please old timers and the ones eager for news. Of course, no news enough to still be Metal. Tracks like “Black Crystal Snowfall” sound a bit more Cirith Ungol than the others, but the feeling is great. The old and the new come together in six nice and easy tracks that fill up your day with that joy that only Metal can give you.

Mavradoxa “Nightmarrow” was released on May 02nd via Hypnotic Dirge Records.

Track Listing: