Μνήμα (Mnima) - The Remains of Human Bones EP

Digging your own grave II: Striking something solid.

For how prolific Μνήμα has been during its existence, the vast majority of their output came to be after 2018. Whereas the 2019-2022 period saw them put out a minimum of three releases a year, the first two years of the band’s existence are home to 3 releases combined. Even then, the more leisurely schedule the band went by at the time was put to great use, as the difference in quality between the topic of this review, The Remains of Human Bones EP and the 2017 self-titled demo is immediately noticeable.

For one, it actually addresses one of my chief complaints about the previous release, that being its length. While the succinct approach endemic to EPs persists here, the fact that we have 3 tracks spread out over 17,5 minutes instead of 4 in 13 means that we get to see the band try their hand at more elaborate and engaging songwriting that actually sees its ideas through. The riffs get some breathing room and actually get to lodge themselves in your head, regardless of their being coated in static and hissing.

With that being said, don’t assume that Μνήμα has lost its intensity, as the opening “Bodies” sees them dispense with any sort of moody introduction and immediately thrust themselves upon the listener. A choked gurgle promulgates a harried riff that is unwavering in its intensity through the first leg of the song, punctuated by lead lines that only exacerbate its piercing nature. This is more in line with my preconceptions of how Μνήμα sounds, and I thus find myself in more familiar territory, albeit one that still holds a multitude of surprises for me, whether it’s the churning riff at the halfway point, or the ear-splitting finale. That final part is especially riveting because the drumming, something that in black metal of this sort tends to be a glorified metronome (one that is loosely followed at that), is quite interesting. Not because the beats played are particularly elaborate mind you, but because there’s a punk flair to the manic bashing of the kit, which adds a lot of propulsion to the tracks. It’s a little odd when you first pick up on it, but it retroactively makes sense when you take the Σίχαμα side-project that came to be later down the line into consideration.

The title track continues in a similar fashion, and features what might actually be the best moment of the EP. It’s a break wherein a stray and lonely guitar melody is found, and is subsequently swallowed by the maelstrom of abject noise that follows it. Although there’s an air of discomfort in it, it remains an oasis compared to the chaos that surrounds it, and having that torn away from you in such a violent manner makes for a very powerful moment, further elevated by the fact that that melody is still heard amidst the chaos, albeit heavily obscured. It’s songwriting that utilises jarring transitions as an emotional outburst, and it works perfectly within the context of nihilistic black metal that Μνήμα is peddling. Unfortunately, the song does undercut itself with the overbearing vocalisations in the end, but it’s far from the worst thing I’ve ever heard.

The closer, “Necrosummoning”, is also quite the oddity. It’s a guitar-led ambient piece that plays around with some mesmerising motifs, that despite their repetition manage to instil a sense of dread. Its limited toolset is ever so slightly bolstered by ambient noises whose origins are obscured. Sure, they could be voices, or synths. Hell, they could also be additional guitar feedback, but you just can’t quite tell, and it makes it all the more haunting. There’s a little bit of piano tucked away in the middle of the song, but even that doesn’t give you much to go off by, especially since the track gradually decomposes as it goes on.

In all, The Remains of Human Bones is a signpost as to where Μνήμα would eventually go, and the ideas presented therein would only develop further as time went on. Furthermore, it also shows signs of growth from where they started, making better use of their limited palette to construct some vivid soundscapes that did not get to establish themselves on the self-titled demo. Each release is yet another step further into that internal abyss, and this particular EP is a massive leap into the void the band would later go on to explore.

Highlight: Bodies

Rating: 80%