Pain Is Forever And This Is The End was a turning point for German duo Mantar, it made their rough blackened death-punk, bigger, more production and a wider sonic approach.
With their fifth record Post Apocalyptic Depression, they have thrown what they've done before out of the window and again tried to suprise their audience.
First off this record is very immediate, it's got a rawness, probably because it was recorded live at Black Bear Studios, Gainesville, Florida by Ryan Williams.
First off this record is very immediate, it's got a rawness, probably because it was recorded live at Black Bear Studios, Gainesville, Florida by Ryan Williams.
This focus on recording things live meant that they had to be brutal with the recordings, they just turned up plugged in a started playing, anything that wasn't needed was cut, they tried to recreate a punk spirit of just getting it done.
The duo cross musical and geographical borders with Hanno Klänhardt (guitar/vocals) living in America and Erinc Sakarya (drums), they want to make this recording process easier than the last album, where they almost collapsed the band.
The duo cross musical and geographical borders with Hanno Klänhardt (guitar/vocals) living in America and Erinc Sakarya (drums), they want to make this recording process easier than the last album, where they almost collapsed the band.
So they restricted themselves to just what they could create in the studio for this record, rekindling their creative team and their friendship too, lyrically inspired by burnout and refocusing their relationship.
Basically this is a record about enjoying music again and it sounds like the duo are loving every minute of this adopting a lot of the grit and grubbiness for their debut album on Rex Perverso.
Basically this is a record about enjoying music again and it sounds like the duo are loving every minute of this adopting a lot of the grit and grubbiness for their debut album on Rex Perverso.
A bit of horror creeps in on Morbid Vocation and Halsgericht is the longest cut with doom edge to it. Post Apocalyptic Depression combines the best moments of Mantar as they return from the abyss. 8/10
Like Raven or more recently Cauldron, Löanshark are a power trio, they play NWOTHM which is inspired by the original NWOBHM? Got that? Good!
The Barcelona three piece have been playing traditional metal since 2017 but unashamedly take things back to the 80's when their style of music was thriving.
They particularly focus on the bands who didn't make it big. Ones that were always in the underground and became cult acts such as Angel Witch, Persian Risk, Tokyo Blade and Marseille, the latter featuring Neil Buchanan (Art Attack) and get covered by Löanshark with a version of Open Fire on this record. It's the cover that really speaks to what sort of band they are.
Re-recording early songs that work to fit with this debut album and while vocally there's some Saxon influences, they could have chosen to do a cover rod band many may not know anything about but one they love.
It's clear that NWOBHM is ingrained into this Spanish trio, this album comes at you with no nonsense or overdubs what you hear is just pure heavy metal from the heart.
While it's not ground-breaking you can't fault their commitment to this style. 7/10
Blackgaze, it's a genre that is very difficult to pull off, bands such as Alcest and Deafheaven are at the top of it, there are countless bands brooding in their shadow, most of whom come from Europe.
Noctambulist are from The Netherlands and they are following up their 2021 album Noctambulist I: Elegieën with this second record. Formed by J.D. Kaye, Sam C.A. and Mitchell Scheerder, they are now joined by guitarists Tristan Tabbers and Stef Heesakkers.
De Droom reflects on the beauty of co-habitual existence while struggling with the dream of homeownership. With this second album the embrace more of their post-punk and shoegaze influences without sacrificing their black metal beginnings.
De Droom reflects on the beauty of co-habitual existence while struggling with the dream of homeownership. With this second album the embrace more of their post-punk and shoegaze influences without sacrificing their black metal beginnings.
Aderlater has an atmospheric beginning that shifts into post-punk towards the end while Godvormig Gat has the anthemic windscreen approach replicated on Gevoelsmens and also Vinex.
It's blackgaze at its heart but the addition of post-punk makes De Droom a gothic journey through the troubles of life. 8/10
Ray Of Light - Salute (Baysis Media)
A band out of time Ray Of Light are a group of rockers that throw back to the 80's glory days of the Sunset Strip. Now you may recognise some of the members as a part of German melodic rockers Frontline, they releases 8 albums then going on hiatus in 2006.
It's blackgaze at its heart but the addition of post-punk makes De Droom a gothic journey through the troubles of life. 8/10
Ray Of Light - Salute (Baysis Media)
A band out of time Ray Of Light are a group of rockers that throw back to the 80's glory days of the Sunset Strip. Now you may recognise some of the members as a part of German melodic rockers Frontline, they releases 8 albums then going on hiatus in 2006.
Frontline tried to reunite but it didn't work out as they hoped but Frontline founder Stephan Bayerlein (drums) found British singer Gregg Cromack and Ray Of Light was born.
While writing their album co-founder/songwriter Robby Boebel fell ill in 2022 and passed away sadly, this obviously stalled the production of the record until they started to work with guitarist/producer Jörg “Warthy” Wartmann and he promptly joined Stephan, Gregg and bassist Thomas Hutch to finalise the debut from Ray Of Light. So what does it sound like?
Well Last Day and Stand Up both remind me of Def Leppard, Falling To Pieces take you down the glam route of Winger, Best Of Me meanwhile has the bluesy moments of Foreigner. Alive and City Of Angels meanwhile take notes from that early 90's melodic rock sound where that was ultimately wiped out by grunge.
It's a high calibre record from veterans of the German scene. Ray Of Light, offer a salute to the glory days of melodic rock. 8/10
While writing their album co-founder/songwriter Robby Boebel fell ill in 2022 and passed away sadly, this obviously stalled the production of the record until they started to work with guitarist/producer Jörg “Warthy” Wartmann and he promptly joined Stephan, Gregg and bassist Thomas Hutch to finalise the debut from Ray Of Light. So what does it sound like?
Well Last Day and Stand Up both remind me of Def Leppard, Falling To Pieces take you down the glam route of Winger, Best Of Me meanwhile has the bluesy moments of Foreigner. Alive and City Of Angels meanwhile take notes from that early 90's melodic rock sound where that was ultimately wiped out by grunge.
It's a high calibre record from veterans of the German scene. Ray Of Light, offer a salute to the glory days of melodic rock. 8/10
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