ALBUM REVIEW: Mental Escape – Ultra Balance
If you’re a fan of ArcTanGent Festival and all the genres that surround that, you may well be aware of REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER, the post-black metal outfit from Nantes in France whose 2020 release Ascension was well-received by fans and critics alike. Well, ULTRA BALANCE is the brand new project from their guitarist, Jean-Jérôme Souladié, and it takes him away from the restraints of the riffs and into synthwave territory. Interestingly, it’s not a million miles away from Souladié personally – he’s also part of the goth/cold wave band SANG FROID – but Mental Escape, this debut album out November 25th via Frozen Records, is definitely cut more from the same cloth as fellow countryman CARPENTER BRUT than the strains of Belgium’s WIEGEDOOD.
Clocking in at 28-and-a-half minutes over its six tracks, the debate on whether Mental Escape should be classed as a full album or EP will immediately begin in earnest, but Souladié is firm on this being a full-length and therefore it should be treated as one. After Watery Ritual opens with a sinister, wavering synth-line – appropriately, as if it’s been recorded just under the surface of a body of liquid – it evolves into something more upbeat. It’s not as dark as some of the other synthwave bands and artists around, but it’s certainly within that realm; the synth guitar overdrive is a nice addition towards the back end of the track as well.
Celestial Night opens with a somewhat classic trope nowadays of synthwave, more in line with the gaming soundtrack of HOTLINE MIAMI and, if such a thing is possible, a real summertime synth track, backed by the gorgeous vocals of Alice Ha. And She Became The Wind opens with a line bearing resemblance to Throne by BRING ME THE HORIZON – never a bad thing – and it continues the upbeat vibe that Mental Escape has established up to this point.
Great Cosmic Magick picks the tempo up a bit, vocals this time provided by Jensarah Swann and boasting a lovely electronic beat that both acts as the foundation and driving force behind the track. However, the upbeat nature is soon disrupted; Departure is a moodier affair, Souladié‘s abilities to perform darkwave getting a showcase on a song that builds nicely and ends with a fantastic drum showing – it’s likely programmed, but it works exceptionally well.
Closing the album is Tree Of Forgetfulness, a reflective piece that leans into the side of synthwave that is not of the kind that brings back memories of 40 years ago, but that of an otherworldly and galactic music not of this planet. It’s a fine way to finish an album that, in all honesty, could have had an extra couple of songs and further ten minutes added.
Nobody would expect Jean-Jérôme Souladié to release a debut synthwave effort and immediately see himself talked about in the same breath as GOST or PERTURBATOR, but Mental Escape is far from a dreadful effort. Rather, it flows nicely, sparkles in places and shows a good amount of potential from a man more recognised for his works in extreme metal. It will likely be little more than a side project, but ULTRA BALANCE is a fun project with an impressive output already.
Rating: 7/10
Mental Escape is set for release on November 25th via Frozen Records.
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