Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

Merrimack are gracing the sphere of black metal with their darkest, fastest and most ambitious album yet. Of Grace and Gravity blurs the line between sacrilege and sanctity with fierce guitars, thunderous drums and howling vitriol.

Of Grace and Gravity is released today, Friday, March 8 and streaming on Black Metal Promotion’s YouTube channel.  

Order at https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/MerrimackGraceGravit

With a foundation deeply rooted in the genre’s unyielding soil, Of Grace and Gravity is a testament to Merrimack’s dedication to the art of black metal. From a cosmic abyss, the album spins a gripping narrative of heresy and rebellion.

Wallowing riffs and blast beats collide with hypnotized pangs of dissonance on lead single “Sulphurean Synods”. Vestal’s vocals spread like toxic fumes over “Dead and Distant Clamors”, which unfolds like a dark and depressive waltz. 

Track-list
1. Sulphurean Synods (6:42) [WATCH]
2. Sublunar Despondency (7:07)
3. Dead and Distant Clamors (5:35) [LISTEN]
4. Wounds that Heal (6:44)
5. Starving Crowns (8:05)
6. Under the Aimless Spheres (7:01) [LISTEN]
7. Embalmer’s Wine (6:59)
Total: 48:13

MERRIMACK are back with their new album ‘Of Grace and Gravity’. Their third release for Season of Mist arrives after the re-print of their long sold-out debut ‘Ashes of Purification’, which followed the sizeable impact that their last album, ‘Omegaphilia’, had on the Black Metal Scene.

MERRIMACK can be categorised as extreme traditionalists that are driven by a burning desire to hone their skills and striving to bring their art to perfection. The band was founded by guitarist Perversifier a.k.a. Amfortas in 1994 with a clear vision to keep the black metal flame burning as an act of aesthetic terrorism – as adamantly based in the underground as opposed to any attempts to co-opt, commercialise or turn the style into a self-parody. Introduced by a number of demo recordings (‘Prologue’ – 1995, ‘Act 1’ – 1995, ‘Horns Defeat Thorns’ – 2001) and split releases (with Hirilorn in 1998 and Sargeist in 2002), the French gained respect in the scene by remaining true to their words.

Although MERRIMACK decided to reach out to a larger audience with the release of their first full-length ‘Ashes of Purification’, the Parisians did not sever their roots with the underground at any time. With the following albums, ‘Of Entropy and Life Denial’ (2006) and ‘Grey Rigorism’ (2009), MERRIMACK closed ranks with the most influential, active, and authentic acts of the French black metal scene. Their classic combination of harsh sound with epic structures appealed to critics and fans alike and put the band on their celebrated first US tour with MARDUK and NACHTMYSTIUM in 2009.

After recording ‘The Acausal Mass’ (2012) in the legendary Necromorbus Studio (WATAIN, DESTRÖYER 666) again, MERRIMACK embarked on a European tour with Norwegian icons MAYHEM and accepted invitations to prestigious festivals such as Hellfest in their native France, Germany’s Party-San Open Air and Summer Breeze as well as Montreal’s Messe des Morts in Canada. With their previous album, ‘Omegaphilia’, MERRIMACK were breathing fresh life into an exhausted genre. While ignoring epithets such as progressive, post-, and avant-garde, the French focused on razor-sharp songwriting, captivating melodies, and close to perfect arrangements.

The ensemble now presents their latest album ‘Of Grace and Gravity’, an aural journey where grotesque assemblies of roosters and goats languish at the foot of heavens. Wallowing guitars and hypnotized passages of blasting drums collide with gravity-bound atoms in oblivious occlusion. MERRIMACK, in their enigmatic mastery, expose the futility of belief in occult ministries and slashes at the mask of the sky. The listener, questioned in their faith of the shadows and occult idols. Dare believe in the sulfurous whispers echoing through this blackened masterpiece.

Line-up
Perversifier – Guitars
A.K. – Guitars
Blastum – Drums
Vestal – Vocals
Daethorn – Bass

Recording Studio
Studio Sainte Marthe, Paris, France       

Sound, Mixing & Mastering Engineer
Francis Caste

Artwork Artist
Belial Necroarts – Front cover
Opposition Artworks – Inner illustrations
Adrien Bousson – Layout

Bandcamp: https://merrimack.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merrimackofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merrimack666/
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/99176
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3XWKabUW6Y9pm9vyNGlrhV
Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/3642745
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/merrimack/41660594
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/music/player/artists/B000QKG2N8