Merrimack Cover Depeche Mode’s “Wrong”
Black metal band highlight the dark heartbeat of synth-pop hit-makers
Veteran French black metal band Merrimack are releasing a cover of “Wrong” by Depeche Mode. Originally appearing on the UK synth-pop band’s 2009 album Sounds of the Universe, “Wrong” reached the Top 10 in nine countries and peaked at Number #1 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. While faithful to the original, Merrimack’s cover is black metal in every breath.
Listen to “Wrong” on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.
Stream https://orcd.co/merrimackwrong
Merrimack’s latest album, Of Grace and Gravity, is available now on Season of Mist.
Order https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/MerrimackGraceGravity
Merrimack’s cover of “Wrong” is rooted in long-standing devotion. Guitarist, Perversifier, who proposed the cover to his bandmates, describes Depeche Mode as having “only grown better over the years”. He singles out “Wrong” for “already carrying more darkness than even Black Metal rarely reaches.”
Merrimack recorded their cover of “Wrong” during the sessions for their 2012 album The Acausal Mass. The cover was shelved for more than a decade before the band returned to record vocals. Perversifier says their cover “highlights just how dark the original song already is”. They preserved all the notes from the original, only bringing “the level of violence that Black Metal can bring”. Where Depeche Mode channel obsessive self-negation through cold synth-pop, Merrimack strip away any distance the original might have offered.
Tracklist:
1. Wrong (Depeche Mode Cover) (2:59)
Country: France
Genre: Black Metal
FFO: Depeche Mode, Deathspell Omega, Mgła
MERRIMACK‘s acclaimed latest offer, ‘Omegaphilia’ (2017) has raised a rejuvenated interest in the French black metal pioneers’ rare debut full-length. ‘Ashes of Purification’ was originally released limited to 1000 copies in the year 2002 and the rising demand is now being met by a one-time reprint of 500 CDs. MERRIMACK can be categorised as extreme traditionalists that are driven by a burning desire to hone their skills and striving to bring their art to perfection. The band was founded by guitarist Perversifier a.k.a. Amfortas in 1994 with a clear vision to keep the black metal flame burning as an act of aesthetic terrorism – as adamantly based in the underground as opposed to any attempts to co-opt, commercialise or turn the style into a self-parody. Introduced by a number of demo recordings (‘Prologue’ – 1995, ‘Act 1’ – 1995, ‘Horns Defeat Thorns’ – 2001) and split releases (with Hirilorn in 1998 and Sargeist in 2002), the French gained respect in the scene by remaining true to their words.
Although MERRIMACK decided to reach out to a larger audience with the release of their first full-length ‘Ashes of Purification’, the Parisians did not sever their roots with the underground at any time. With the following albums, ‘Of Entropy and Life Denial’ (2006) and ‘Grey Rigorism’ (2009), MERRIMACK closed ranks with the most influential, active, and authentic acts of the French black metal scene. Their classic combination of harsh sound with epic structures appealed to critics and fans alike and put the band on their celebrated first US tour with MARDUK and NACHTMYSTIUM in 2009.
After recording ‘The Acausal Mass’ (2012) in the legendary Necromorbus Studio (WATAIN, DESTRÖYER 666) again, MERRIMACK embarked on a European tour with Norwegian icons MAYHEM and accepted invitations to prestigious festivals such as Hellfest in their native France, Germany’s Party-San Open Air and Summer Breeze as well as Montreal’s Messe des Morts in Canada. With their latest album, ‘Omegaphilia’, MERRIMACK were breathing fresh life into an exhausted genre. While ignoring epithets such as progressive, post-, and avant-garde, the French focused on razor-sharp songwriting, captivating melodies, and close to perfect arrangements.
Line-up
Vestal — Vocals
Perversifier — Guitars
A.K. — Guitars
Daethorn — Bass
Blastum — Drums
Recording Studio
Music: Necromorbus Studio (Stockholm, Sweden), Vocals: Tehom Productions
Production Credits
Music produced, recorded & mixed by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studio
Vocals recorded, mixed & mastered by Xavier Berthiaume at Tehom Productions
Cover Art Photo by © Alizée Adamek
Follow Merrimack
Bandcamp: https://merrimack.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merrimackofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merrimack666/
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/99176
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3XWKabUW6Y9pm9vyNGlrhV
Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/3642745
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/merrimack/41660594
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/music/player/artists/B000QKG2N8
