A swirling aura of sounds envelops the listener as they soar through you with just the proper amounts of emotion and passion. A rather pleasant atmospheric vibe courses through the listener as they are transported to another plane of existence. Madder Mortem is similar to The Gathering in their ability to craft an esoteric vibe, yet seem to boast a bit of a darker vibe as such. Both are able to bring together a sound that is captivating, but this band seems to go a bit further into the intensity department and deliver something that is a nicely rounded experience.

Even though the music seems atmospherically dark at times, there is a very pleasant vibe to be derived from the quality of the music on display. The band is uplifting and are able to bring about a variety of sounds into a nice, overall conglomeration. They never sound overwhelming when trying to introduce you to a variety of things.

One is always under the impression that Madder Mortem are in complete control of their thoughts and the solidity of purpose they perform with is quite commendable. The best tracks on Eight Ways are difficult to locate, but some of the moments of “Resolution” or "Life, Lust and Liberty" stick out amongst the rest, for example. There aren’t really any noticeable weak points to speak of throughout the album as a whole as the band are able to maintain their atmosphere to great heights quite effectively.

A high point are the vocals of Agnete M. Kirkevaag which manage to have enough range complemented by a good amount of emotional presence. The entirety of the musical performances is strong, however and shows a band able to swirl together a number of styles effectively. Overall this is a captivating release and a band that shows a great deal of promise.  [ END ]

Track Listing:

01. Formaldehyde
02. The Little Things
03. Armour
04. Resolution
05. A Different Kind Of Hell
06. Riddle Wants To Be
07. Where Dream And Day Collide
08. The Flesh, The Blood And The Man
09. Get That Monster Out Of Here
10. Life, Lust & Liberty
11. All I Know
12. The Eighth Wave

Run Time: 1:05:16