In a world where you can never keep on top of everything being released, we can be pretty confident that there isn’t anything else in 2024 quite like Malconfort and the band’s debut, Humanism (Transcending Obscurity Records).
Sometimes (very often in fact) releases come along that can be pretty easily defined and described in two or three words, so that even before hearing a note, you’ve got a handle on what to expect. On the other end of the spectrum are bands like Non Serviam and Mamaleek where it’s up to us poor music writers to just roll our sleeves up and do our level best over the course of 300 words. So here we go…
Malconfort takes its name from a Deathspell Omega track and, according to the press release, plays Experimental Black Metal. While that’s not a crazy tag to put on Humanism, it isn’t necessarily going to steer you in the right direction.
So why the Black Metal tag? Well, we have here (a times) what could be considered Black Metal screaming (or growling). In fact opener “Compulsion (Ecstasy)” opens with such screams — on top of a funky beat that wouldn’t be out of place on a Hip-Hop/Trip-Hop record.
The funky rhythms (often combined with eerie basslines and ringing guitars that could find their way onto a Post-Rock or Prog-Rock record — or a seventies spy movie) are pretty much an ever present. The vocal delivery, however, is far from predictable. “Cruelty (Elation)” and “Rage (Indulgence) both deal more in whispers, before the strangled screams rip through the atmosphere mid-track.
Certainly there are also some abrasive aspects to the music (mostly by way of noise and atmosphere). However these elements shouldn’t be overstated. Just as important to Humanism is the groove and the rhythm and quite often (in a kind of creepy way) the beauty.
Whether it’s the proggy King Crimson guitars of “Stain (Fantasy)” or what’s kind of like tremolo picking via Radiohead on “Rage (Indulgence)” or the smooth bass lines throughout, Humanism is akin to a giant, poisonous, man-eating flower. You would be wise not to put your head too far in down its throat, but by goodness is there some beauty in that glistening, multi-coloured throat.
Having the drive and ability to create something that sounds unique is already worthy of applause, but to also be beguiling, mysterious and seductive with it, while also kind of scary, well there needs to be a medal for that.
Buy the album here:
https://malconfort.bandcamp.com/album/humanism
9 / 10
TOM OSMAN
Follow Tom’s work here:
https://ghostcultmag.com/tag/tom-osman/