Of all genres, metal is is the one that puts the strongest emphasis on what modifiers come before it. There are countless adjectives that can be thrown up front in order to more clearly define just what exactly a band sounds like, but bands like Brooklyn’s Mortals are blurring those distinctions through constant evolution. The trio has undergone various course changes during its time together–at times focusing on punk or black metal–but it’s always maintained ownership of itself. On July 8 Relapse Records will release the trio’s new album Cursed To See The Future, and on new track “The Summoning” the band shows its ability to defy classification as it explores everything from doom to black metal over the course of the song’s nine pummeling minutes.
The A.V. Club is premiering “The Summoning” below, and pre-orders for Cursed To See The Future are available via Relapse.