Zakaz ‎"Myrkur Og Dauði" CD

From the darkest of all places where the winter nights are cold and still, from the eerie and beautiful Iceland comes a band that, unlike any other believes that there is a place within the human mind that you can transcend to, behold the underground palace of human sorrow and it is there that music takes the form of spiritual sacrifice."

Myrkur og dauði // Mors Tenebrae :
is the first release of the Icelandic Black Metal band ZAKAZ.

Including 8 page booklet and tray insert

Black metal from Iceland has gained massive respect over the past few years. Sinmara, Svartidaudi and a lot of others have not only put this small country onto the map music-wise, but also above more or less each other scene. Known for their dense, aggressive, highly atmospheric black metal that has its own distinct voice fans of the genre have become ecstatic whenever another outfit appeared from below the ice floes of the frozen sea. One of the many bands is Zakaz from Reykjavik who have been formed in 2012. Meanwhile they have released three full lengths, and “Myrkur og daudi” has been the debut.
On this album Zakaz managed to create a sound that is both extremely hard-hitting and highly melodic, inserting enough earworm riffs into their songwriting to even picky listeners for months to come. All the tracks offer pure rush of black metal darkness replete with robust blast beats and fantastically melodramatic guitar-driven majesty. There is a certain dissonant vibe inherent in the music, but ultimately the epic hooks are dominating, with the combination of chaos and order, darkness and light creating a dense yet captivating atmosphere.
The riffs are played with a lot of passion, often being re-used with small variations. The sinister main chords are pitched against lofty themes, with each song having enough trademark harmonies to set itself apart from the others. The rhythm section is setting the groove, often switching between pure madness and more laid-back style within a few moments. The flow of the album is great, sending the passive consumer on a trip across frozen landscapes and caverns of ice.
Despite the icy darkness, and for all their focus on the most melodically engaging elements of the genre’s sound, their forte still remains the crushing, oppressive weight of black metal songwriting done right. Of course the typical tremolo runs are part of the game, as well as blast sections and howling vocals. I know this sounds cheesy, but somehow Icelandic black metal seems to be the equivalent of the country itself. Frosty and unfriendly, but also absolutely fascinating and beautiful.
The production is a bit different, and at first I was put slightly off. However, the somehow distant character of the sound underlines the mystical nature of “Myrkur og daudi”, and once I got used to it I could not imagine it any other way. I am not sure if Zakaz can be seen as part of the spearhead of the Icelandic black metal scene, as the peer group is extremely strong. In case you are a fan of that specific style and cannot get enough of it or would like to get a first taste of what makes this local scene so interesting, this record is definitely worth checking out.

Sample: