Manimal

The Darkest Room

Written by: PP on 22/06/2009 16:36:02

Are there honestly people who listen to stuff like Manimal and consider it original? Just like my recent Israthoum black metal review, I'm arguing precisely the same point about heavy metal, that this is a genre in which almost all the bands share an overall impression that's precisely the same, where the only aspects that keep changing are the riffs and lyrics. Massive soundscape with echoing, technically proficient riffing that's mildly interesting? Check. Vibrato vocals riddled with cliché lyrical references? You fucking bet. Run of the mill, by the books, generic heavy metal? That's precisely what "The Darkest Room" is all about - except it isn't even good for what it is unlike Israthoum was.

Because really, how are these guys different from Mystic Prophecy, Crimson Cult, Metalium, Mind Odyssey.... I could go on and on and on but all these bands sound precisely the same. I have no idea why labels waste time on signing bands like these because they don't even sell well (outside of Germany that is). I guess they are hoping that the bands develop into an actually good band like Rough Silk or even the next Iron Maiden. But everyone knows that's ridiculous optimism at best, living in a fantasy land at worst.

I guess this is the part where I name some songs from the record and talk about them, but what to do when they are all basically the album's first track "Living Dead" in varying degrees of tempo and riff-quality? I don't understand why I must bother to be creative in my reviews of bands like Manimal when they can't even do it in the writing/studio processes. So I'm gonna go ahead and give my standard grade for forgettable crap like this, one that normally ranges between the 4 and the 5.

4

Download: Living Dead
For the fans of: generic heavy metal
Listen: Myspace

Release date 19.06.2009
AFM Records

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