Much like an anthology of a renowned author’s most acclaimed works, MMXXIV (Church Road Records) is a collection of the first two EPs released by Copse.
And there’s good reason to have the Post-Black Metal band’s five songs in one physical form: they are undoubtedly the gold standard for how the genre should sound.
It’s no easy feat trying to accurately express how perfect this work is. But let’s try anyway.
The highlight of MMXXIV is “Mara.” However, calling it the one and only highlight is akin to trying to pick a single moment in Michael Jordan’s career that stood out.
The atmosphere is Burj Khalifa-level towering and imposing. A charming fire lulls in smooth, warm strums. Preparatory drums evolve with the guitars. Then a drum roll erupts into gaudy screams, screams that rival literally anyone else on the planet.
In other words, put me in a gladiatorial arena with lions, tigers, and bears.
There is a Ph.d level of chemistry amongst the musicians. No effort is ever wasted, no single second is taken for granted.
“Old Belief” has an intro that’s fit for the most agonizing session of a calf-tearing workout. Barraging drums and elongated notes work in tandem for a truly blissful outcome. Frankly, it could have influenced the result at Thermopylae if blared from speakers above the desperate Spartans.
Circling back to the drumming, “New Despair” stands as a beacon for intrepid ability. The performance is like giving an artist a brush and canvas and letting them run wild. Passionate, delicate singing early on returns later, but morphs into pained shouts of misfortune, once again igniting the drums into a spellbinding cascade.
For nearly forty minutes, Copse successfully etch their names forever into post-Black Metal lore and immortality. The feelings that come from the work they create is palpable and nearly indescribable. It’s a coalition of experts putting their heart and soul into their music.
Thus, MMXXIV truly is a record you feel in your heart and soul.
Buy the album here:
https://copsebm.bandcamp.com/album/mmxxiv
10 / 10
MATT COOK