This is a one man Black Metal act from Northern Finland, namely Mantus Nord, who names bands such as Mayhem, Venom and Darkthrone as his influences. This is a follow-up to his 2010 album, ‘Sign of Inverted Cross’, and is so emotionally fraught and raw that it makes me feel cold just by playing it! Darkthrone is all over this album, as are elements of Behemoth, and it feels that something dark and nasty has been dragged kicking and screaming out of a snowy forest in the middle of the night. But, it has to be said, that the very rawness and under-production will not be to everyone’s tastes as this has been done many times before, and is Mantus actually adding anything new to the current scene? I hate to use the word ‘pleasant’ on an album such as this, but in reality that is what it is. I enjoyed playing it, but having now listened to it a few times I can’t think of anything that makes it stand on it’s own identity.
It is bleak, but in some ways is very one-dimensional with no real depth. But, if you enjoy your BM and can’t get enough then this may be up your street.
www.inverse.fi
