Metalcatto
You know I have a soft spot for anything that mixes Prog and Death in the same sentence. What can I say? I like my bands to starve. So when Mors Verum came to me like a fart in the wind, I knew I had to smell it properly. Enough disgusting and childish jokes, though; what we really want to know is whether Canvas is worth your money, or at least your almost non-existent attention. Let’s get this horror started.
Canvas is a pretty curious case of an album that, despite its heaviness and overall weirdness, doesn’t commit any real excesses. There’s not too much craziness, nor too much technical showing-off for the sake of it. Sure, the tracks sit on the longer side of the spectrum, but there’s so much going on beneath the surface that time flies by. I found myself eager to return to it just to see what else this thing could reveal. There’s no direct comparison that fully captures what Mors Verum are doing here. The sound carries a strong ’90s Death Metal backbone, but it’s clearly infused with more modern ideas and structures.
The production isn’t exactly clean, either, which only adds to its charm. All this off-kilter madness happens within a gritty, underground framework that would fit perfectly on the Transcending Obscurity roster. It’s not Pyrrhon, but imagine if Tomb Mold leaned less into pure old-school worship and you’ll have a decent idea of what to expect from Canvas. That said, it’s probably time to make a few less glowing comments. You need a bit of agony in your life too, after all.
You know they’re Canadian because some are smiling here
It took me a while to articulate this, but rather than full-on complaints, I mostly have a few petty observations that I hope Mors Verum won’t stab me for (it wouldn’t be the first attempt on my life). Canvas is consistently enjoyable, but it feels like the album could benefit from a few more truly epic or dramatic moments. There are passages that seem ready to hit a higher peak, yet they settle comfortably into the “that’s cool!” territory instead. Ironically, slowing things down at key moments might actually help Mors Verum reach that next level. Yes, telling a band like this to ease off is basically a sin, but at MER we have no blasphemy laws.
Still, this is an honorable addition to any weird Death Metal collection. Canvas feels exactly like its name suggests: a space where all sorts of strange yet tightly controlled ideas are thrown together with clear intent. That sense of order within chaos is what really makes the album stand out, and frankly, it’s something many of us could envy in our everyday lives. Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to return to the cold corporate world and pretend I’m not a Metalhead awkwardly posing as a sane, well-adjusted person.
Label: Transcending Obscurity
Release date: February 19, 2026
Website: https://morsverum-label.bandcamp.com/album/canvas
Country: Canada
Score: 3.8/5.0
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