The lone wolf Thomas Eriksen strikes again with Mork’s seventh full-length opus, representing the project’s most expressive and diverse works to date.

Following on from vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Thomas Eriksen’s self-titled Udåd project debut earlier this year, the new album by Halden, Norway-based Black Metal entity Mork, entitled Syv, emerges as the new pinnacle of Mork’s and Thomas’ ever-evolving journey, as well as a creative expansion both sonically and compositionally over all prior works, including his 2023 opus Dypet. Recorded and mixed by Thomas himself, with engineering assisted by Freddy Holm (who also contributes with strings and synths), mastered by Maor Appelbaum and Jack Control at Enormous Door, and displaying a visceral artwork by David Thiérrée, Syv also represents Mork’s most expressive and diverse works to date, with exquisite melodies interspersed with brutal and even occasionally progressive riffs amid an ever-present air of melancholy, forming a perfect backdrop for Thomas’ thematic dive through the contemplations of looming mortality, and digressions through the depths and contrasts of human existence.

It takes only a few seconds for Thomas to begin roaring like a demonic creature in the opening tune I tåkens virvel (“in the vortex of the fog”), presenting his trademark riffage and crushing beats in seven minutes of a descent into hell together with this talented Norwegian lone wolf; whereas in Holmgang the strings by guest Freddy Holm give the whole song a more Folk Metal vibe, while Thomas keeps the project’s core essence as blackened as it can be, resulting in a strong tune that should sound amazing if played live (as the band’s live lineup consists of Thomas supported by guitarist Alex Bruun, drummer Daniel Minge, and bassist Øyvind Kaslegard). Heksebål (“witch bonfire”) also follows a similar pattern than the previous song, blending the harshness of Black Metal with the more melodic and ethereal sounds of Folk Metal, with Thomas delivering an amazing performance on drums throughout the entire song; and back to a more visceral, old school Black Metal sonority, Thomas puts the pedal to the metal in Utbrent (“burned out”), with his enraged gnarls and sharp riffs haunting the souls of the lighthearted.

The album continues to spread darkness to our damned hearts in Med døden til følge (“with death to follow”), presenting a more Melodic Black Metal vibe than its predecessors, not to mention it’s an excellent option for some evil headbanging, and it’s time for another Black Metal attack by Thomas entitled Ondt blod (“bad blood”), offering our ears more of his classic Black Metal riffs and beats. Then an obscure start evolves into a massive feast of hammering sounds in Tidens tann (“the ravages of time”), keeping the album at a high level of rage and animosity, followed by Til syvende og sist (“ultimately”), the second to last song of the album, which is just a regular instrumental track that doesn’t add much to the whole experience; flowing into the introspective tune Omme (“about”), an acoustic creation by Thomas where he only uses his clean vocals to give it a more melancholic vibe.

Syv can be savored in full on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course in order to show all your support to Thomas and his alter-ego Mork, you can purchase a copy of the album by clicking HERE or HERE, and also stay updated with all things Mork by following the project on Facebook and on Instagram, including of course their fantastic live performances. After seven sensational full-length albums in the span of only 11 years, I believe we won’t have to wait too long for Thomas to stun us all with another blast of the music by Mork, and when that happens the skies will get dark and we’ll all be embraced by a soothing void once again just like what the music found in Syv can do to our rotten souls, always in the name of top-of-the-line classic and modern-day Norwegian Black Metal.

Best moments of the album: I tåkens virvel, Utbrent and Ondt blod.

Worst moments of the album: Til syvende og sist.

Released in 2024 Peaceville Records

Track listing
1. I tåkens virvel 7:14
2. Holmgang 4:27
3. Heksebål 5:41
4. Utbrent 6:15
5. Med døden til følge 5:49
6. Ondt blod 4:05
7. Tidens tann 5:55
8. Til syvende og sist 5:30
9. Omme 4:17

Band members
Thomas Eriksen – vocals, all instruments

Guest musician
Freddy Holm – strings and synths