For all that is has to offer and all that is to be found within it, the sheer state of atmospheric black metal can most certainly be described as a double-edged sword. On one hand, you have a vast array that seems never-ending such that you really have your choice of stylistic choices amongst thousands upon thousands of different bands, but it is on the other hand that you have many, many acts that seem all too content to retread the same material tirelessly. Amidst all of that, there is always a small collective that seem to stand out from the rest for one reason or another. Over the years, I've heard the name of Mahr flitter out of that abyss where one can effortlessly become lost, and it's only now with its newest creation that I find myself wondering if I should've dived after the name of Mahr sooner.
Despite only throwing down black metal for the last five years, Mahr has already made quite a name for itself by all accounts with their music the sort that always causes tongue to wag throughout the scene whenever a new offering arrives. It was when "Soulmare" was coming about four years ago that I first heard of the act, but it wasn't until now with "Odium" that I find myself before the entity. For this effort, I was wholly unprepared for what Mahr would dish out. There are but two tracks that "Odium" calls its own, but it's with a runtime of over forty minutes that this behemoth of a performance lurches forth with one powerful stomp after another seeking to consume. What its endgame is be it universal annihilation, to inflict terror, or some other abstract machinations we cannot know, but to witness "Odium" weave its horrific craft is to watch the very fabric of reality be torn asunder, folded in on itself, and inverted in such a way that is nigh on maddening to behold. Mahr is in a constant state of writhing even in its dense atmospheric passages that can be just as unnerving as they can be ritualistic and alluring at the same exact time to enable "Odium" to quickly contort into some awe-inspiring that sends shivers to the most inner realms of the soul. In a vehicle of atmospheric black metal that is more than capable of melody, terror, and the bleakest catharsis I've seen in far too long, it's no wonder Mahr is being hailed as one of the most compelling creations 2023 has spawned.
The sheer density of the current state of atmospheric black metal is something that can easily bury creations like this in a thick layer of darkness where such creations can certainly thrive, but only the most astute and fortunate listeners are able to uncover it and enjoy it for themselves. Luckily, Mahr has a clearly dedicated following that has kept their name relevant so that new people can come upon the dark magnificence. As one of those newcomers, I find the dwindling light of Mahr something exciting to look deep into with all that is "Odium" something I cannot help but wholeheartedly recommend for all that it is.
LISTEN to "Odium" on Bandcamp here.
Mahr is part of the Prava Kollektiv which you can LIKE on Facebook here.
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