'''''M''''' is the debut studio album by the black metal project [[Myrkur]], by Danish musician and singer-songwriter [[Amalie Bruun]]. Produced by [[Kristoffer Rygg|Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg]] of [[Ulver]], it was released on 21 August 2015 through [[Relapse Records]]. Featuring a black and [[gothic metal]] sound, the album melds influences from various genres, including [[Black metal#Second wave|second wave black metal]], atmospheric [[post-metal]], gothic, darkwave, Scandinavian folk and classical music. ==Critical reception=={{Album ratings| MC = 83/100<ref name="mc-1">{{cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/m/myrkur/critic-reviews | title=Myrkur - M | publisher=Metacritic | accessdate=15 September 2015}}</ref>| rev1 = Allmusic| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="allmusic-review">{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/m-mw0002861258 | title=Myrkur - M | publisher=Allmusic | accessdate=31 August 2015 | author=Jurek, Thom}}</ref>| rev2 = ''The Austin Chronicle''| rev2score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="austin-review">{{cite web | url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2015-08-14/myrkur-m/ | title=Myrkur - M (Relapse) | work=The Austin Chronicle | date=14 August 2015 | accessdate=31 August 2015 | author=Toland, Michael}}</ref>| rev3 = Consequence of Sound| rev3score = B<ref name="cos-review">{{cite web | url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/08/album-review-myrkur-m/ | title=Myrkur – M | publisher=Consequence of Sound | date=17 August 2015 | accessdate=31 August 2015 | author=Barry, Sean}}</ref>| rev4 = ''Exclaim!''| rev4score = 9/10<ref name="exclaim-review">{{cite web | url=http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/myrkur-m | title=Myrkur - M | work=Exclaim! | date=19 August 2015 | accessdate=31 August 2015 | author=Walschots, Natalie Zina}}</ref>| rev5 = Pitchfork| rev5score = 7.9/10<ref name="p4k-review">{{cite web | url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20833-m/ | title=Myrkur - M | publisher=Pitchfork | date=31 August 2015 | accessdate=31 August 2015 | author=Currin, Grayson Haver}}</ref>| rev6 = ''Spin''| rev6score = 7/10<ref name="spin-mag-review">{{cite web | url=http://www.spin.com/2015/08/review-myrkur-m/ | title=Review: Myrkur Is a Light in Black Metal’s Darkness on ‘M’ | work=Spin | date=20 August 2015 | accessdate=31 August 2015 | author=Joyce, Colin}}</ref>| rev7 = Sputnikmusic| rev7score = 2.4/5<ref name="sputnik-review">{{cite web | url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/68292/Myrkur-M/ | title=Myrkur - M | publisher=Sputnikmusic | date=25 August 2015 | accessdate=31 August 2015 | author=K., Elijah}}</ref>|rev8= ''New Noise Magazine (FR)''| rev8score = 8/10}} Upon its release, ''M'' received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 83, which indicates "universal acclaim", based on 10 reviews.<ref name="mc-1"/> Allmusic's Thom Jurek wrote: "Myrkur's music melds all of her adopted stylistic elements, lets their seams show, and emerges with an innovative, alchemical creation of her own. ''M'' expands on black metal's boundaries yet holds its dark, foreboding spirit close."<ref name="allmusic-review"/> ''The Austin Chronicle'' critic Michael Toland stated: "Danish raven Amalie Bruun integrates extreme intensity into both genres' [goth/black metal's] inherent drama."<ref name="austin-review"/> Sean Barry of Consequence of Sound thought that ""''M'' doesn’t differentiate itself greatly from the early work of many black metal artists." Barry further added: "The album shines with potential and the promise that a more unique followup waits further down the trail."<ref name="cos-review"/> ''Exclaim!'' critic Natalie Zina Walschots praised the album, writing: "The textures of ''M'' are even more finely hewn and interwoven than its predecessor, resulting in a record that is at once profoundly tactile and deeply sensual."<ref name="exclaim-review"/> Grayson Haver Currin of Pitchfork thought that "on ''M'', Bruun is free and clear of any identity drama—and a much more convincing bandleader for it."<ref name="p4k-review"/> ''Spin'' critic Colin Joyce stated: "What remains Bruun’s strongest suit is the way she juxtaposes the extremity of her influences." Joyce further concluded: "She comes out of more subdued sections to use blast beats like scare tactics, drops in glacial vocal harmonies as soothing lullabies."<ref name="spin-mag-review"/> The Quietus' Dean Brown was also positive in his assessment of the album, writing: "By conveying the masculine and feminine duality inherent in old musical traditions and modern musical developments, Bruun has composed a truly rewarding record that defies direct categorisation."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://thequietus.com/articles/18615-myrkur-m-review | title=Myrkur - M | publisher=The Quietus | date=25 August 2015 | author=Brown, Dean}}</ref> Nevertheless, Sputnikmusic's Elijah K. gave the album a mixed review, describing the album's sound as "painfully bland and too on the nose."<ref name="sputnik-review"/>