ALBUM REVIEW: Slow Motion Death Sequence – Manes
After sixteen years of innovative, avant-garde music, MANES are back with their latest release, Slow Motion Death Sequence. Having been consistently experimental and unabashed in their creative output, will the band live up expectation with their unusual formula?
An abstract, warm and sorrowful opening from Endetidstegn manages to take the heavy mix of synth into a relatively interesting opening track. Simple chord movements allow the more electronic elements of this song to boast bigger and better. Both female and male vocals allow for a change in dynamics, and overall the song has a great movement into an epic, atmospheric sound that sets up the rest of the album well.
Scion has a lovely melody and moves its vocal style towards a more spoken word, nu metal feeling. Imagine if ZERO 7 and SKINDRED were to collaborate, you’d get something similar to what is demonstrated here. It’s clear that MANES enjoy playing around with the dynamic of different digital sounds, and the scope in which all of these sounds interact and evolve. Another successful track that moves very much into a dark place, is Chemical Heritage, a song that keeps its intricacies in its rhythm section, a very detailed and delicate, and becomes something of a vocal cross between THE ARCTIC MONKEYS and BLACK SABBATH. Things take a dive into the synthwave darkness of PERTURBATOR, but on a more subdued and mellow level, all the while beating down with the distorted guitars and root things firmly in the metal scene.
Therapism has a very futurewave feel to it, a soundscape of echoing synthetic beats, crashing symbols. An atmosphere of technical experiment compliments the ideas of therapy and metal torment within the lyrics, overlaid with samples of old doctor’s comments and interviews. It’s a thought provoking and profoundly deep piece, and one of the standout songs on this album. Things take a change of pace into a more guitar led intro in Last Resort. We return to the dual male/female vocals for a softer tone on this track, that complement the harmonies and riffs. It’s good to see a band not rely on one formula, for example, starting out with synth and then adding in places more traditional music. This time, there are hints of synth in the way of deep bass notes that under the optimistic feel give great weight to the track.
Poison Enough For Everyone is another turn back to the dark, as a creepy little melody echoes on guitar over spoken lyrics, and swathing synths. Static grinds behind all this, as a thick riff builds and a malevolent beat drives the track. You can gather some influence from Jack Black and Nick Cage here, and even a little NINE INCH NAILS. It’s one of the simpler tracks on this album in terms of musical direction, but that change allows for a different connection to a simpler kind of emotion here.
Building The Ship Of Theseus changes things completely once more, approaching this song with a more Bowie-esque vocals and a general eighties vibe with reverb guitars and a warm tone. It’s a much brighter side to MANES‘ musical arsenal, and while as a collective this album doesn’t sit too well, as individual pieces each track has a real charm and quality. Night Vision is potentially the most coherent track on the record, collecting elements of most of the songs before. A fizz of synth and static, a tinkle of piano to introduce the melody, a sizzle of symbols, a droning guitar; the darker edge to both female and male vocals ties everything together, the grandeur of the song in its lingering harmonies in its haunting atmosphere.
Overall, Slow Motion Death Sequence is a little disjointed in its general musical direction. However, the themes are still consistent and the range of ideas and melodies it covers are all individually very colourful and interesting, and often very emotionally powerful. While MANES clearly have a vast number of concepts they enjoy working with, and are unbound by one specific direction, it’s undeniable that their sound connects best when it follows a more consistent flow.
Rating: 7/10
Slow Motion Death Sequence is set for release on August 24th via Debemur Morti Productions.
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