Mortalus-Heart So Black

Independent/Self-Release
2018

Mortalus is a heavy/thrash metal band from Little Rock, Arkansas that is lead by vocalist/guitarist Michelle Gann. Influences range from Judas Priest & Iron Maiden to bands like Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Overkill, Testament, Anthrax, and Death Angel. On the band's full-length debut, the aptly-titled titled "Heart So Black", it's groups like Crowbar and Pantera that bridge the gap between those different metal genres. Not surprisingly, the Arkansas-based group has hit on a sound that is bad ass to the core! With a run-time of just over 45 minutes, "Heart So Black" is chock full of heavy riffs and skull crushing leads. All at once hard-hitting and heavier than hell's bells, Mortalus' first full-length album is a monster recording that has mean motherf**ker written all over it!! It would be well-worth the price of admission for the music alone. What's really cool about the album though is how it mixes this sick music with well-thought out lyrics. With themes that cover everything from the politics of the music business to my favorite topic, zombies(!), "Heart So Black" is a heavy metal thrasher that actually makes you think about the subjects at hand. I'm not sure about everyone else, but I cannot remember the last time that I really thought about subjects like the sacrifice of soldiers while I was making a mosh pit out of my living room! As such, I've got to give mad props to the members of Mortalus for covering the hard stuff, some of which was obviously very personal to the band. It couldn't have been easy opening up so much on your first album, but it most certainly made the album that much more real and vibrant. Having formed in 2014, Mortalus (guitarist/lead vocalist Michelle Gann, guitarist/backing vocalist Donald Holland, bassist/backing vocalist Bryan Bedgood, and drummer Patrick Mahoney) suffered multiple medical issues and personal hardships in the pursuit of their debut album. In a very real way you can feel the pain and heartache that went into the making of this album. Maybe that is the reason this album works so well? Whatever the case might be, "Heart So Black" is the sound of one band that struck it rich in style and substance the first time out. Here's to the hope that this is just one of many good things to come from this exciting new metal band! For more information on this buzz-worthy band be sure to check out the group's Facebook page.