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Marduk - Wormwood

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 September 18 2009 at 06:57:18 AM



One of Marduk’s illustrious insiders, modestly described Wormwood as “better than Rom 5:12, but not quite as good as Master of Reality.” What do I come away with from this? I’m guessing – hoping – said insider is employing a bit of tongue-in-cheek. I’m guessing he or she is also gilled on one-sheet Kool-Aid. I’m guessing banking on selling yet another Swedish “Black Metal” act’s cult-of-personality to the kids is quite easy now, as long as the right bands are invoked via ad blitz, and the tees and patches remain relatively easy to access. I’m guessing they’re also still very much stoked to have netted Mr. Daniel Rosten, a/k/a Mortuus, a/k/a Arioch; I’m just surprised Wormwood isn’t festooned with a big black circular sticker screaming: “WORMWOOD, MARDUK’S NEW ALBUM, FEAT MORTUUS OF FUNERAL MIST!”

As interesting and off-putting as Rosten’s Maranatha was Wormwood is as uninteresting and off-putting as anything ever released by Marduk. The non-sequitur noise intros and outros and what my pal and AQ Warlord Andee Connors calls Rosten’s “Popeye vocals” return in force, leading me to believe Wormwood and Maranatha were either recorded simultaneously – as in, Wormwood is a collection of outtakes “fattened up” via Morgan, Magnus, and Lars, or Rosten has simply assumed total control of Marduk’s songwriting and “conceptual” apparatus. Too bad, I say, ‘cause this Black Metal parody serves only to further weaken a genre that’s been dead as the wasteland of blogs dedicated to maintaining its lithe and bogus spirit in perpetuum. That Black Metal bands can, and do, continue to release music bereft of substance or content is nothing but testament to the genre’s shelf appeal. I suppose apologists can – and will – argue Marduk has rested on its laurels before, and why wouldn’t it continue to do so? When those “laurels” are records released in the early ‘90s, one’s only recourse is to call for justified mercy killing.

Perhaps Rosten will shout out from on high via MySpace and dispel his critics again – as he did when the grumbling grew legs of discontent with Funeral Mist’s Maranatha. Perhaps he will rebound, regroup with Necromorbus and unleash something smacking vaguely of Salvation, maybe even Devilry. But, as Lester Bangs wrote in a Clovis era BOC review, having the formula down better than most bands in recent memory doesn’t necessarily equal art; it may just equal success, however. For us old farts that grew up on this shit, the sort of synthetic “Black Rock ‘n’ Roll,” nee Black Metal, typified by Wormwood is yet another reason to itch that festering problem I’ve got with “the kids.” It also means the potential audience for Marduk is about to get fuckin’ exponential. Rosten will have plenty of time to twirl his Sai daggers and sectional staff while pondering his next step. He just may publicize said step via “micro-zine” or other forms of “Elite Black Metal Skripture.” That’s fine. Just as long as the multi-named man realizes he’s become the sort of cartoon simulacra he railed against for so long. “I’m strong to the fin-ish, cuz I eats me spinach, I’m Daniel, the Black Metal Man. Toot! Toot!”

[Stewart Voegtlin]

Marduk
Wormwood
2009
Regain Records

Related

- Marduk - Plague Angel
- Marduk - Rom 5:12
- Funeral Mist - Maranatha

Comments (35)

  • 108 comments
    jniff
    10:37 AM on Sep 18, 2009 // reply »
    Hmmm... If I was going to compare my band's latest to a Sabbath record, I'd probably have picked something different than Masters. Volume 4, maybe?

    It took a few spins to fully digest, but IMO, this is Marduk's best release since Those of the Unlight and Opus. After Devo and Jocke departed, my interest in their output quickly waned, as Tagtren production coupled with incessant blasting just gave me a headache. Plague Angel and ROM 512 had their moments, but taken as a whole...

    I might be in the minority on this (and it took me awhile to fully appreciate), but I think Maranatha is about as near-perfect an orthodox BM record as I could hope for (I'll take it over any of the other FM releases), and that Daniel's vox are beyond sick. That said, comparing Maranatha to Wormwood is like comparing Tiamtu to Death Holy Death. At times, you could think you were listening to the other band.

    There are some stellar songs on Wormwood, and great production and instrumentation (I dig the bass playing).

    I've yet to read an interview w/ Daniel, so can't comment on anything related to his stance on BM or affinity to daggers and martial arts....

    A strong release!

  • 374 comments
    VOEGTLIN
    10:43 AM on Sep 18, 2009 // reply »
    As strong as Miller Lite, jniff.
  • 108 comments
    jniff
    11:17 AM on Sep 18, 2009 // reply »
    Heh! Don't know about the Miller Light. Maybe as strong as a Dogfishhead 120 min IPA on an empty stomach? A Miller Light can hit the spot on a hot summer day, tho.

    I'm a bit surprised you didn't like considering your reaction to FM and the past two Marduk releases...
  • 374 comments
    VOEGTLIN
    1:04 PM on Sep 18, 2009 // reply »
    Very much like the FM rec and enjoyed the last two Marduk recs. But the nuances that set Rom 5:12 apart from Plague Angel are amplified to the rec's deteriment here.

    Dogfish? Only New Englanders drink that liquified bread. I am a Schlitz man, man.
  • 108 comments
    jniff
    1:33 PM on Sep 18, 2009 // reply »
    Shit... I'm south of the Mason-Dixie line last time I checked. Nothing wrong w/ some liquid bread sometimes.

    Good call on the Schlitz, tho. That's been my official beer of summer 2009 - criminally underrated. That said, Dogfish has a bit more of a punch than the Schlitz.

    So what was this "cartoon simulacra" Mr. Rosten was railing against?

    Maybe I just wanted more FM than Marantha in one year, so that's why it won't leave my player. Maybe it'll grow on you...
  • 374 comments
    VOEGTLIN
    7:39 AM on Sep 19, 2009 // reply »
    You want me to explain a review that explains why I didn't like a record? Are you sure you're not Rob Harvilla?
  • 108 comments
    jniff
    8:41 AM on Sep 19, 2009 // reply »
    Don't know RH...

    After reading this review, though, I'm even more curious to read an interview w/ the man of many names.
  • 15 comments
    evanz
    4:10 PM on Sep 19, 2009 // reply »
    Can a band be its own official fan club?
  • 2 comments
    Anonymous Coward
    11:58 AM on Sep 20, 2009 // reply »
    when did he <i>shout out from on high via MySpace to dispel his critics</i>? never happened.
  • 374 comments
    VOEGTLIN
    5:52 AM on Sep 21, 2009 // reply »
    Anon Coward: We never went to the moon either.
  • 67 comments
    chauncey chomperz
    8:31 AM on Sep 21, 2009 // reply »
    we damn sure didn't go to the moon, and Rob Harvilla is a music editor at the Village Voice.
  • 374 comments
    VOEGTLIN
    9:20 AM on Sep 21, 2009 // reply »
    @Evanz:

    Mayhem, too.
  • 2 comments
    Anonymous Coward
    5:45 PM on Sep 21, 2009 // reply »
    VOEGTLIN: if you say so...
    your claim is still bs.
  • 108 comments
    jniff
    7:22 PM on Sep 21, 2009 // reply »
    Am I the only one that likes this?
  • 374 comments
    VOEGTLIN
    6:04 AM on Sep 22, 2009 // reply »
    Probably, J. I'm very fucking burned out on Black Metal as it is anywho. How many Black Metal records are released every month? How many Heavy Metal records? It's got to be something like 300 to 1. No wonder I'm listening to Nazareth so much...
  • 15 comments
    evanz
    6:52 AM on Sep 22, 2009 // reply »
    At least you guys cover the good stuff.

    Speaking of which, when will we get a review of Yoga - Megafauna? I'd like to hear your guy's take on that one.
  • 374 comments
    VOEGTLIN
    6:58 AM on Sep 22, 2009 // reply »
    I've got a stack about three feet high of stuff that I'm going to try and get to this week. The Megafauna rec is in there, but I'm not very much into Goblin does Black Metal.
  • 1 comment
    John Mincemoyer
    9:54 AM on Sep 22, 2009 // reply »
    Stewart,

    Hello. So, it is nice of you to quote from Oaken Throne 1's header in your Marduk review and refer to my "micro zine" Rape&Honey, but I do not understand the snide dig? Care to explain?

    Sincerely,
    John Mincemoyer
  • 374 comments
    VOEGTLIN
    10:02 AM on Sep 22, 2009 // reply »
    First jniff and now j mincemoyer!

    I've always enjoyed the "mystery" inherent in letting the writing speak for itself.

    Further justification or delineation is just a boor.

    Doesn't anyone remember laughter?!
  • 24 comments
    stevie
    1:13 PM on Sep 22, 2009 // reply »
    i do! (teeheeheehee) now, now guys... this extreme metal scene is small enough as it is
  • 108 comments
    jniff
    1:21 PM on Sep 22, 2009 // reply »
    BM is supposed to be morbid! There's no room for laughter...

  • 374 comments
    VOEGTLIN
    1:29 PM on Sep 22, 2009 // reply »
    I think everything's OK. Mincemoyer just sent me a morbid balloonagram.
  • 1 comment
    sotar79
    12:42 PM on Sep 23, 2009 // reply »

    its obvious that they want to change their sound in every release, for the purists this can be bad but this record is good in its context, they just slowd down the machine and i agree that maranatha was dissapointing but in this case its not, marduk its not a band that puts out bad shit
  • 29 comments
    David
    2:59 PM on Sep 23, 2009 // reply »
    That's actually a quote lifted from Sandy Pearlman, one of the Blue Oyster Cult's managers, modestly described their debut as "better than Killer(s. Alice Cooper), but not quite as good as Master of Reality." I've been giving their early albums a second chance lately, and noticed the resemblance. It's from the Rolling Stone review of their debut album in '72.
  • 374 comments
    VOEGTLIN
    5:22 AM on Sep 24, 2009 // reply »
    Cheers, David!
  • 1 comment
    HK
    2:07 AM on Sep 26, 2009 // reply »
    Hey VOEGTLIN. What this thing with Rosten and sharpening sai daggers???
  • 6 comments
    bill
    5:34 PM on Sep 26, 2009 // reply »
    shit review, stuart. drink shit.
  • 374 comments
    VOEGTLIN
    7:25 AM on Sep 28, 2009 // reply »
    The name's "Stewart," Bob. And thank you very much for the cogent criticism.

    I find Black Metal fans tend to constantly defy the notion they are insular, intolerant, knuckle-dragging weenies. Just like you did here.
  • 6 comments
    heresy is progress
    12:16 AM on Mar 12, 2010 // reply »
    Wow. This sorta bums me out for the author of this article. way to miss the point, brah. The last three Marduk albums have all been progressing in a direction that sort of makes me excited about Black Metal again. This version of Marduk is searching for something that was completely absent from the whole Legion fronted era of the band - an era where "laurels-resting", "phoning-in", "being lazy, cynical fucks cashing in" were all stuff they'd have to cop to. Focus. Ambition. Strong Songwriting. Muscular production. Pride in your Product. what the fuck is wrong with that?
  • 374 comments
    VOEGTLIN
    10:27 AM on Mar 12, 2010 // reply »
    Nothing wrong with "focus, ambition, strong songwriting, muscular production, or pride in your product." Nothing at all.

    Suggesting this record demonstrates said facets either nakedly demonstrates your limited experience with "Black Metal," or an egregious dependence on cough syrup.
  • 6 comments
    heresy is progress
    9:32 PM on Mar 12, 2010 // reply »
    haha I love it! "You obviously don't understand black metal." That's pretty flattering coming from a pitchfork media hipster douchebag with a burzum fetish...

    There`s a lot of self-important, faux intellectual sneering at most of the music you guys cover and profess to love around here. It's pretty telling that you site Lester Bangs in yer little article here - another elitist, armchair commentator sniping at his betters.

    cough syrup is nice, btw - wouldn`t consider it a "dependence" per say...
  • 374 comments
    VOEGTLIN
    7:05 AM on Mar 13, 2010 // reply »
    You love what? Acting like I typed something I didn't? I didn't type, "You obviously don't understand black metal."

    What I love is when I'm accused of belligerent ad hominem attacks and, in turn, am the object of belligerent ad hominem attacks.

    It's a warming, loving moment, where the world is ruled under Orwellian aegis and polar opposites become synonymous.

    Now I am the "hipster douche" because you are supporting terrible music by Marduk. No way out of that wormhole.
  • 6 comments
    heresy is progress
    11:17 AM on Mar 13, 2010 // reply »
    you actually typed "nakedly demonstrates your limited experience with "Black Metal". "You obviously don't understand black metal" was the battlecry of dorky internet bm warriors on the FMP message board circa 2001. Let's not be pedantic here.

    And no, me supporting marduk isn't what makes you a hipster douche...
  • 19 comments
    Doomstoned
    11:52 AM on Apr 12, 2010 // reply »
    I certainly can respect the reviewer's opinion, especially when so well articulated. Personally, I have enjoyed "Wormwood" more than anything Marduk has produced since "Nightwing". However, that could be due to the fact that I regularly ingest the burning fumes of wormwood in a sacred admixture with my regular cannabis intake and drink very little beer as opposed to typical metaloid alcoholics.

    Furthermore, it's kind of odd to be an outsider to all of this shit/scene/whatever and appreciate Marduk's late and early works, particularly under the influence of psychedelic compounds, and meanwhile see all this vitriolic hatred and deconstruction of the band from all segments of this pasty white subculture/genre/whatever and since so many people seem to hate Marduk, that seems to further attract me to them since I'm a true contrarian at heart.



  • 1 comment
    Pure Black Evil
    7:30 AM on Jul 29, 2010 // reply »
    Stupid ass review.
 

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