Morgul began in Råde Norway in 1991, while later taking residence in the United States. Morgul is currently without a label due to the shifting climate of the music industry. Otherwise little is known about their status, the last known article was an email interview done around 2006. I’m always checking any new information or progress, but alas nothing has proven fruitful.
Morgul was a happy accident, I had stumbled upon them via one night of random searching for new extreme music. Not knowing who or what awaited me, my initial impression was it floored me in how out of the periphery it was. I began digging for more information and found that Morgul started out in black metal. Now for those unfamiliar with black metal it is a genre that is linked to the heavy metal tree. In my opinion Morgul falls between genres because of the mixed motifs in presentation. A question arose about whether or not this was black metal, there seems to have some connection to the style, but its more expansive whereas black metal is more confined to being raw, rather than taking the style in new places.
For the average person who doesn’t know what is black metal? Typically it employs material which straddles between two extremes, either a militant and cacophonous wall of ferociousness, or the more experimental and symphonic approach. The militant aspect tends to languish and stay within a framework of animalistic aggression, whereas the experimental flourishes with more grandiosity.
Songs usually employ hyper stylized blast beats, with fretted onslaught distortion of guitars, all encompassed with either raspy, or screechy vocals. The more outside of the scope the vocals and musicianship is, will often labor outside of the pack. For me I lean towards the flair, and showy, rather follow the super extreme sound. Don't get me wrong I love the extreme style, but there comes a point when so much of the same desensitizes one. Some bands can do it well, but it takes a very precise hand to know when and where to use it.
Fans of the style will have a receptiveness which entails a steady, and patient ear. It takes good keen listening skills to hear all varied nuances. Production can be really good, or labor in very poor and sloppy execution. Black Metal employ varied themes of cultural symbolism, paganism, anti-establishment, anti-religion, and satanism. Black metal artists will decorate themselves with corpse paint to evoke a character of demonic demeanor. Some of it can be frightening, other times it can be quite comical. If a band is really good its an added element in which helps accent the music. At the same time some artists choose not to employ it and let their musical artistry work for them.
Now having laid out the basics, Morgul employs a gamut of styles, which is not really a commonality of black metal. I think the most profound of his work is how it gleams classical elements and portrays it in a modernistic way, while delivering a distant period motifs of the late 19th and 20th century. There is definitely a cold and bitter lore to the foundation, as I think Jack D. Ripper (vocalist) conveys this to the listener.
Every facet of Morgul has layered experimentation. Lyrically it is bound with human absurdities, insanity, a morbid curiosity of death, all enveloped inside purest darkness. Morgul waylays into the deeper elements of our human frailty, and this could be seen as extremely negative. This isn’t for the faint, or timid, if you can get past the upfront caustic tome, there is beauty lurking underneath all the ugliness.
What sets Morgul apart from his brethren is instruments not typically heard in the style. Instruments like violins, pianos, keyboards, electronic percussion, and slower tempos. There is supreme power behind the work, whereas the vocals which are congruent to the music constantly morph, and evolve behind bristling sound landscape's.
His Extended Play's were of the common fair of the period, fast, fierce, and uncompromising. The first Extended Play Vargvinter a demo, plays around with song composition, the raw like tendencies usurp anything inventive to the black metal style, but it sets up fertile ground in what would eventually become "sound" for Morgul.
The second EP In Gowns Flowing Wide elaborates more on the theme, mixing up the tempos a smidgen, while introducing the listener to sprinkling of keyboard touches, and acoustic parts. Some of the songs seem to wander a tad bit, as there is an organic evolution happening with the song structure, while still feeling out its purpose of technique, and nuance. Its an interesting period to check out, if you can find it that is. Its relatively difficult to obtain.
Lost In The Shadows Grey Morgul's first 'real' record begins branching out from his EP work. There is progression used this time around, the tempos are intermittently crushing, but the mode is showing the listener greater potential. The first song Enthralled uses a piano intro, and back dropped behind the piano intro is a keyboard waltz. Something of a staple or shtick that any band will use to cement what they're about. This sets up the listener to a weary and foreboding experience. Whereas it begins to twist into something far more sinister, and creepy. The remainder record showcases blistering power cords, drum tempo with frequent fills, and shrieking vocals. Does take some getting used to.
Parody of Mass I think is where Morgul starts to setup a nice groove. Variances of tone, (more) waltz like rhythms, a better cleaner production helps accent the piercing guitar work, and moderate tempo changes make this a great record. I think Morgul becomes distinctly more unique here. Black Hearts Domain gives the listener a shifted sense. Songs themselves flow consistently without concern of blockage to that form. Healing The Blind starts out in the usual format, but then takes a sharp turn, keeping the listener agape as to what will happen next. Unfortunately, I was extremely late to this record, last year had me finally getting a chance to hear it. Alas I am so very happy to hear this record, a top five for me even though its been out a while.
The Horror Grandeur takes what is established with Parody and stretches the tome a little further into newer places. Its mellower but don't let that steer you away. It still showcases the harsh inflection of Morgul signature, while still staying true to the medium of expression. Each track continues to hold up even today. The Murdering Mind, and Cassandra's Nightmare lengthen out the waltz's, while shoring up a very intense emotional pull to the psyche. Its like music to a really dark horror film, as the title of the record implies. The Horror Grandeur typifies why Morgul uses wider variances to song structuring. Overall themes and feel wise there is evident layering going on, that the twisted, and tormented co-exist in a very bizarre place. I personally felt and believe there is something strong to behold with this record.
Sketch Of Supposed Murderer, with this record evoked a band named Therion. Especially with the track Violent Perfect Illusions, the use of the symphonic element became much more apparent this time. This record had more zip, pep, and jump to the songs. I think the changing climate of the scene going on eleven years now, pushed this record out off into the horizon. I think in today's climate should warrant this record a second look. Elaborating Sketch Of Supposed Murderer is different in the cannon of Morgul. There are obvious attempts to capitalize on the pop construct, but I truly thought and believed it never felt genuine to warrant that branding. Maybe it wasn't ready for acceptance at that time, though it has elements for a more wider audience, it got lost in the shuffle of more prominent popularity bands like Dimmu Borgir, and Cradle Of Filth. Like so many groups that tried to be unique in their own right, just couldn't break through. Sometimes it just wasn't ever meant to be, which saddens me because this would have been a great addition to what was already out there. 
All Dead Here, a record four years removed from Sketch, was largely shunned and ignored. Because of the Norwegian wave of popularized symphonic black metal peaking in the U.S. people’s attention wasn't in the same head space anymore. For me I was in constant search for the next extreme "thing", and would become utterly disappointed with the next wave of what was considered extreme. I eventually settled on the idea it doesn't have to be super intense, or pummeling to be extreme. My tastes changed a lot in that four year span. I was opening up to ethereal concepts to what music was, as this showed me how musical expression invoked differences to all music styles. I had moved on towards Enslaved, gaining more understanding to the organic construction of song structures, melodic flow, and power tones whilst still keeping my ears toward the more extreme. It kinda helped I was immersing myself with Opeth a lot more.
Whereas the music industry wasn't supportive of the style here stateside. Regardless, All Dead Here, songs like The Need To Kill, Sanctum Perversion, Hategrinder, and Outro showcased where Morgul progressed into. A mere simplified, interwoven pieces, felt jagged, and confined. I ultimately felt this record congruently broke up the flow, most of the songs felt like they were languishing in the ether. Many of the tracks are focal to their existence, were disjointed, which soured the mood. Its a tad weird to listen to again, and know how this exists in its own stasis.
Don't get me wrong each song on this record sells heavy ambient textures. Gone were overt fierceness, replaced with harmonic touches, and keyboarding. Shifting the prism of rhythm, shunted blast beats, which further cocooned the emotion. It seemed like the motivation or reason to be was to languish in abject sorrow. Alas, that would be the last full length, and due to the problems with how the industry was at that time, I’d be surprised if Morgul will ever return. Especially in today’s climate where there is so much uncertainty to where and what will happen next.
You can find a few Morgul releases, the debut, Horror, Sketch, and All Dead Here in digital form. Unfortunately, Parody, and the first EP’s are a lot tougher to get. Since I’m a download kind of person, it would be nice to have a record to add to my growing collection. Thanks for reading.
B.
