| A Masterpiece of Norwegian Black Metal Art !!! A True classic now re-issued by Hammerheart Records!!!
This album is just incredible. It in itself hundreds of different things and influences. It reminds me, among others, of three great, but also different bands: Burzum, Samael and Arcturus? Why Burzum?
The music is based on that grim guitar, which plays simple melodies in rather slow tempo. Here, its role is only to be a basement for melodies, just to establish the rhythm. The whole music creates a great, depressive atmosphere, even more sad than Burzum. The songs last for 5 to 7 minutes, so it is enough to present various melodies and arrangements. Why Arcturus?
Because of the role of keyboards. It is them, which creates melodies. They're everywhere and they may have different functions - either build up the dark spheres, make the riffs sound better or to make melodies. You can even find here a keyboard solo! Why Samael?
Those piano plays, intervals and so on, which remind me of "Blood Ritual". Another thing responsible for the atmosphere and the climate.
But Manes is much more than those bands. Manes has created its own style, full of arrangements taken from other, not metal genres. Here you can find many industrial elements, strange sounds and so on. The vocals are growled, but in a strange way. The whole music is so complicated, so strange, so different from anything else... The best thing in Manes is that the band used its' originality and uncommonness in creating great, fascinating music. There are many bands which show something interesting, but they cannot create good songs. Manes can. Many great riffs, keyboard melodies, industrial intervals - it all makes this music original, but also great. |
