Lord Mantis - Death Mask review
| Band: | Lord Mantis |
| Album: | Death Mask |
| Style: | Blackened sludge metal |
| Release date: | April 29, 2014 |
| A review by: | Auntie Sahar |
01. Body Choke
02. Death Mask
03. Possession Prayers
04. You Will Gag For The Fix
05. Negative Birth
06. Coil
07. My Three Crosses
How does a band top a masterpiece, exactly? Within metal, history has shown us with albums like Human and Hammerheart that it's typically done by changing their sound to something different, but still potent and effective. While this may sound like a bunch of theoretical bullshit, in the case of Lord Mantis, this rule is proving true yet again with Death Mask, an album that may not live up to its landmark predecessor, but perhaps doesn't have to.
Lord Mantis' third album can alternatively be seen as both a regression and an evolution, depending upon the expectations one goes into it with. In regards to Pervertor, Death Mask is a lot less filthy and relentless: the production comes across as a little less murky, and the bludgeoning speed of the previous album is present in a much smaller dosage. While this may come across as a disappointment, Lord Mantis have traded these techniques in for an all around "thicker," heavier sound, and a songwriting that seems to be more structured and compact. Opener "Body Choke," for example, retains nearly all of the band's trademark elements, yet takes a much more doom-like approach, with a more moderate tempo that makes the music come across as catchier, and in some ways easier to get hooked into. It's not a bad move by any means, and thankfully the band have also retained some of the chant-like repetition in their lyrics (a la "The Whip And The Body"), particularly the repeated "Blood rush is chilling!" (or something like that) line on "Possession Prayer."
In essence, where Pervertor finely balanced out the sludge and black metal elements of the band, Death Mask appears to be more focused on the sludge than the black, at least as far as musical delivery is concerned. Some exceptions and increases in tempo do appear, such as on the delightfully nasty "Negative Birth," and towards the end of the closing track, but the overall lack of such a type of delivery on the album in general makes it feel a bit underdeveloped when it actually does rear its ugly head. The saying typically goes that a band's third album is the "make it or break it point," and Death Mask puts Lord Mantis in a bit of an odd position going forward, because it honestly does a bit of both.
Regardless of all the love fans have over their previous album, however, it should be noted that Lord Mantis were coming off a landmark blackened sludge album with this release, so the fact that they had an almost impossibly high standard to duplicate should be taken into consideration when listening to it. Death Mask is one of those "follow ups to a masterpiece" sort of albums, that will be likely to only disappointment listeners who go into it with the expectations created from the band's preceding album. Is it Pervertor, Vol. 2? Not in the slightest. But, for the sake of maintaining artistic dignity and evolution of sound, does it really need to be? This reviewer thinks not.
Highlights: "Body Choke," "Possession Prayer," "Three Crosses"
Take your vitamins, children.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 8 |
Written by Auntie Sahar | 22.05.2014
Comments
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Comments: 43
Visited by: 277 users
| Cynic Metalhead Ambrish Saxena Posts: 7562  |
I didn't feel the spark in this album. You inflated score on the basis of fanboyism but I still feel it wasn't GOOD AT ALL taking every aspect in this consideration. Pervetor was phenomenal but yet comparing with this will be out of the edge. This record has its own "playing" but very stripped off music it came out to be. Yes, I'm against this review. My score will stuck at 6.5. Great band. Awesome music they created but this record is hellish letdown.
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306  |
Felt more or less the same when I first heard this, although I wouldn't call anything Lord Mantis have released a masterpiece. I'd probably score it a few decimal points lower but it's still a serviceable album. Nice to see Cynic maintaining his typical level-headedness when disagreeing with a reviewer's score.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| Rupert Posts: 469  |
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071  |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 22.05.2014 at 17:57 Totally agreed. Pervertor was a good album but far removed from being a masterpiece. Quote: I never thought I would see day that the name Cynic and the word 'level-headedness' would be mentioned in the same sentence. What's nect? You saying all of Cynic's posts make total sense?  
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989  |
Written by Cynic Metalhead on 22.05.2014 at 17:25 I don't even know how to begin to respond to such a silly comment. You can appreciate a band for trying a new formula and still being fairly good at it without being a fanboy.
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989 |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 22.05.2014 at 17:57 Yes, that's the magic word that gets people debating over what exactly it means with all of their subjective opinions, because it is a subjective definition. All I meant by that comment was that it set the bar pretty high for the style of blackened sludge, and the mark is going to be pretty hard to top.
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 22.05.2014 at 18:26 Right back at you in regards to Watching From A Distance 
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 22.05.2014 at 18:26 I thought it was obvious that I was being sarcastic. As for calling this a masterpiece Che, if you know such a subjective term is bound to incite argument or disagreement, why bother using it in the first place? At least contextualize it a little (a masterpiece within the blackened sludge scene or something, similar to how that Warning album is regarded as a masterpiece by the majority of those who listen to doom).
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989 |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 22.05.2014 at 21:36 Maybe because I want to? That's kinda flawed logic if you ask me, you're basically saying not to say something if you know it's going to be controversial. I don't censor what I say like that. I called it a masterpiece because I think it is, and I would think it'd be a least a little obvious that I'm referring to it as one within the style from which it originates, not the entire metal genre as a whole.
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 22.05.2014 at 21:36 Of course I knew you were. But because the guy is such immense moron, even surpassing K7, I wanted to rub it in ;-)
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| Introspekrieg Totemic Lust Elite Posts: 2749  |
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989 |
Written by Introspekrieg on 23.05.2014 at 01:23 Hmmm, interesting you pick that one. I've heard a lot of people complaining about the vocals on that track.
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306 |
Written by Auntie Sahar on 23.05.2014 at 00:03 Far be it from me to suggest how you review, I was just trying to point out that introducing a reader to your review by calling something a masterpiece (especially when it comes to something as unmiraculous as a black and sludge metal hybrid band) is bound to take the focus off the rest of the review because it's such a strong statement, it distracts from the rest of the words that follow. I don't see how that can be considered censorship or flawed logic, and I also don't see how it's obvious that you implied it was a masterpiece within the genre in particular considering your opening line. But like I said, I'm not here to try and dictate how reviewers write. Consider it constructive criticism that might potentially help with balancing your subjectivity with diplomacy as it were.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989 |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 23.05.2014 at 02:41 Advice taken, if not with a slight grain of salt
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Erik M. Posts: 3104  |
Written by Auntie Sahar on 22.05.2014 at 19:04 I guess you just lost a place to sleep next year during Roadburn. For the record, Watching From a Distance is surely 9-9.5 material for me.
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| Erik M. Posts: 3104 |
Written by Auntie Sahar on 23.05.2014 at 00:03 Well, if it's a masterpiece in a certain style, say, doom metal, then it's still a metal masterpiece and a masterpiece in music in general. I know what you mean by this, but it's just an odd statement (as was Troy's by the way).
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989 |
Written by Erik M. on 23.05.2014 at 16:53 Something about Patrick Walker's vocals have just never done it for me. Far too whiny and "aaaaaaaahaaaaahaaaaah" for my tastes
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Erik M. Posts: 3104 |
Written by Auntie Sahar on 23.05.2014 at 17:13 Didn't like his vocals initially either, but they really grew on me. Those "aaahaaahaaah" parts are actually great, especially that part in Bridges.
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374  |
Written by Auntie Sahar on 23.05.2014 at 17:13 ...You bastard. D:
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Back on-topic, please.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 23.05.2014 at 18:16 You disagreed with my opinion, so NO!!! 
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by Auntie Sahar on 23.05.2014 at 18:58 I have modding powers. So, you'd better listen to me or you want to be banned? 
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 23.05.2014 at 19:07 I would love to be band, just find me a drummer and a guitarist please
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Boxcar Willy yr a kook Posts: 9156  |
This could be the most derailed thread we've had in awhile. On Topic, I probably won't listen to this.
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989 |
Written by Boxcar Willy on 24.05.2014 at 19:25 Off topic, I probably won't listen to the next Deafheaven
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by deadone on 26.05.2014 at 02:15 How so? If two genres could merge well in certainly would be sludge and black due to the nastiness of both in their original forms.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989 |
Written by deadone on 26.05.2014 at 03:05 Well then I now declare a blood feud upon thee that shalt not be resolved until the days of Ragnarok 
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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