Editor’s Note: Our new, recurring “Albumism Recommends” series aims to shine a bright light on our favorite albums of the past, with an emphasis on the records that arguably never achieved the widespread or sustained attention they rightfully deserve. As you’ll see below, unlike our longer-form feature articles, we’ve intentionally kept the accompanying commentary to a minimum, so as to allow the great music to speak for itself.
We hope that you enjoy discovering (or rediscovering) these musical treasures and if you like what you hear, we encourage you to spread the good word far and wide so that others can experience these under-the-radar classics as well.
ARTIST: Myrkur
TITLE: Mareridt
RELEASED: September 15, 2017
LABEL: Relapse
NOTABLE TRACKS: “Crown” | “Funeral” | “Måneblôt”
Myrkur is the alter ego of Danish multi-instrumentalist Amalie Bruun, who combines black metal with traditional Scandinavian folk music, in varying ratios. Her debut album, M, was much more black metal, while Mareridt is both ethereal and folky, with metal elements woven like little flashes and accents throughout. (She’s also put out an album of strictly folk music, Folkesange (2020), on which she plays traditional instruments like the nyckelharpa and talharpa.)
This album, Mareridt (Danish for “Nightmare,” after Bruun’s bout with sleep paralysis ), has received critical acclaim but not much recognition outside of metal and indie circles, and I suspect that people who like, say, Tori Amos (check out the track “Crown”) would be into it despite some of the harder elements. Out of all of Myrkur’s albums, Mareridt is the most tempestuous, enchanting, and atmospheric, and every track is a winner.
As an Amazon affiliate partner, Albumism earns commissions from qualifying purchases.
LISTEN:
WATCH:
