Μνήμα (Mnima) - Interment EP

Digging your own grave V: One crypt closes, another one opens.  One of the universe’s constants is the corrosive passage of time, and Μνήμα, for better or worse, are not exempt from it. 2 years after their inception, X. would part ways with our unnamed multi-instrumentalist, resulting in the band becoming a one-man project. Thankfully, the duo decided to close that chapter of the band’s existence with their best work up to that point, the Interment EP. While each of the band’s projects I have covered thus far has managed to engage me in its own unique way, this is the first time I find myself swept off my feet, my time spent with Disciples of Excremental Liturgies notwithstanding. For one, this goes completely off the path Μνήμα has walked up to this point, primarily in the fact that it’s *slow*. Whereas the furious tremolo riffing was used to weave intricate textural tapestries that blurred the lines between white noise and black metal, here it serves as an exclamation mark. Although the first half of “I” starts with one of their now-trademarked tremolo riffs – coupled with a nasty D-beat switch-up – it proceeds to fall apart into this vast and desolate slowdown that plays around with sounds they had only hinted at in the past. The guitars obtain a near-ambient quality, shimmering in the background alongside some very light (presumably) synth work, with the occasional swell of feedback produced by the appropriately sparse arpeggios cutting through. Although the “less is more” mantra has always echoed through their work, <i>Interment</i> sees their minimalist approach to riffing and sonic aesthetics in a near-perfect equilibrium, while also showcasing a desire to play with dynamics. The second half of the song is in essence what “Necrosummoning” was on the Remains of Human Bones EP, but expanded upon and incorporated into the larger black metal superstructure, in part thanks to the drumming. Its laid-back nature means that it doesn’t take precedence over the soundscape conjured by the guitars, but the reverb that has been applied makes these passages sound all the more imposing, despite the more ambient soundscape presented. It makes for a far more forlorn listening experience than their previous work, which primarily dealt in lashing at the listener with its convulsive outbursts, instead slowly enveloping the listener in their bleakness, and it’s safe to say that it works just as well. “II” follows suit, maintaining the already established tone. Arpeggios flicker in and out of sight, gradually building up tension in conjunction with X.’s vocalisations, whose voice proves to be quite adaptable, his presence becoming far more wraith-like on this EP. Over the course of Μνήμα’s existence as a duo (and someone who is regrettably enough unfamiliar with his work in other bands, something that will be addressed soon enough), I’ve always treated him as a “layer of noise” vocalist, which works well within the confines of Μνήμα’s music, but here it’s the first time I get to truly feel the emotions he’s projecting, and it’s precisely because the music doesn’t drown him out. Not that he doesn’t have his usual moments of screaming over extremely hectic blast beats and tremolo/arpeggio interplay during the track’s two crescendos, but he truly shines outside of those moments. It’s an excellent performance to go out on, and it plays perfectly into the EP’s moodier tone, all while maintaining the intensity he’d showcased up to that point. His presence in Μνήμα’s music, and the Greek black metal scene at large, is sorely missed, but he has left an indelible mark all the same. I would also be remiss not to mention the production, if only briefly. After getting bitch-slapped by the Superior Poisoner of Time demo’s unflinching commitment to noise, seeing a return to the relatively warmer sounds showcased in the past was a breath of fresh air. There’s more textural depth, as it’s not muffled by an added layer of noise, and as such it’s far easier to appreciate the new approach showcased here. Furthermore, it allows the layers of the compositions to make themselves felt, albeit in the context of a lo-fi recording that is perennially hostile to the listener. It really is something you can immerse yourself into, despite its brevity. Truthfully, I consider Interment to be the natural continuation to what Μνήμα did on the Remains… EP, both in terms of its sonic makeup and the compositions therein. It delivers a succinct, yet highly dense, 12 minutes of black metal that see the band explore dynamics they had only briefly touched upon in the past, and it manages to do them justice in that time. Really, if there’s one thing I want to complain about, it’s how short it is. Sure, the individual tracks’ lengths and the EP’s flow make up for that, but I’ll be damned if I said I didn’t want more of this. I find myself spinning this multiple times over the course of my day, and I just can’t get enough of it. Its bite-sized nature makes it easy to revisit, and the fact that it’s so richly textured makes it a true delight to unpack. If you have to check out a single release from Μνήμα’s beginnings, make it this one. Unrelenting misery and darkness are rarely as captivating as this. Highlights: Yes. Rating: 90%