11th July 2022

Review: “Self Titled” by Mercury’s Well

Perhaps as long as seven years in the making, the self titled debut album from Mercury’s Well follows their debut EP “The Way Of Ashes” as the band look to build on their foundations of Gold and Bones with pride and purpose. That debut EP was four years in the making itself as the Reading based Progressive Death Metal act lost original bassist Kyle Townsend in 2013 and replaced him with James Tiffin who also offers backing vocals, the bands backbone formed of Simon Davies on guitar and vocals and on Liam Fogarty on drums. So the emphasis is on quality over quality with two records in a decade of aggression…

…while time maybe considered a great healer, for Mercury’s Well it finds them older, wiser and angrier at the World with their self titled album lyrically dealing subjects such as love and loss, nihilism, destructive anger and suicidal thought with both introspective and metaphorical moments that delight, resonate and frighten in equal measure. Under the cover of black swirling clouds they paint with a darker set of colours as the storm begins to build with “Fire“, a caustically abrasive little ditty that acts as a warning shot across the bowes. The band are back and they mean business, crushing the weak and burning the naysayers with a barrel load of riffs and a powerful rhythm section. The intelligence of Mercury’s Well shouldn’t be underestimated as “Götterdämmerung” references “Twilight of the Gods“, the last of Richard Wagner’s operas which refers to Ragnarök, a war between the gods that ultimately results in the burning, immersion in water and renewal of the World. Some Post-Hardcore warmth in the leads plays neatly against the barrage of chunky rhythmic pummelling with some majestic moments buried in the mix that become apparent after several repeated listens. The nuanced solo is neat and tidy addition without any needless flamboyance being allowed to kill the vibe, instead reliance on the the tried and trusted makes for another slab of quality. “Blood” has been carried over from the bands debut EP, this new version sounding more refined with some of the edges sanded down and while keeping the eclectic and eccentric Jazz Metal leanings at the heart of the matter, a thin veil over the dark subject of the lyrics. Refined in the fire, this version has been tightened up and enhanced, paving the way to the bands future down the left hand path with a look back at their past. A standout from the EP, it sits perfectly amongst these new works taking pride of place.

While at times “The Way Of Ashes” felt like Nick Cave was singing Opeth songs in a dark, dank basement torture chamber hell, here that element has been dialed back dramatically so everything feels darker, grittier and more mature as Davies tears through the lyrics like a Pitbull, his bark equal to his bite with a fearsome look in his eyes. The playful solo during “Zenith” is an absolute pleasure, an addition to a pummelling rhythmic powerhouse that reminds us that while there are dark clouds overhead, chinks of light can break through at any moment. For those who aren’t as well read as the band themselves, they take their name from “Iron John” by Rober Bly, which references a fountain of the Roman God, Mercury and links to alchemical practice, something which is at the heart of the album title track. A near nine minute magnum opus and a journey through ancient history, it steps back some of the work from the bands debut EP with eclectic clean vocal choruses and an off kilter melody. The solo is sublime, the extended instrumental passages offering the chance to ruminate on the lyrics, while some of the Post-Hardcore riff moments are punchy perfection. Rather than a monolithic beast, it has so much going on with in its confines that you simply don’t want it to end its wandering. “Nadir” picks up the pace, hypnotising into a slow headbang with crushing mid tempo riffs before breaking the worship with some eclectic leads. Another pummelling powerhouse, it cries for surrender to the forces of darkness calling from the void and to be fair, resistance is futile [8/10]

Track Listing