Mental Home
Upon The Shores Of Inner Seas
[The End/Century Media]
Brand new release from Russia's premier doomsters is another major step in
turning them into one of the finest bands of its kind. The guys continue to
mature and perfect their skills. This album sees the band adding progressive
elements and more playful, melodic demeanor. As a result, the music is less
dark and melancholic than "Black Art," but more lively and catchy, with
cleaner vocals, upbeat tempos and lighter atmosphere. The musicianship is
very fluid and accomplished. Great keyboard work from "Maiden" beautifully
ornaments Sergey Dmitriev's and Sergey Kalachov's excellent riffs and leads,
while equally impressive rhythm section of Igor Dmitriev and Denis Samusev
completes the formula.
Song writing is, once again, top-notch. "Downstairs," "Late To Revise," "Bliss," "Breakdown," and "Stained" are as good as anything the band did in the past. The songs have a modest feel in a sense that they don't attempt to jump in your face, and don't indulge to excessive grandiloquence and histrionics that plague so much of metal music. But that's the beauty of it because they are extremely well crafted and rewarding. They deserve repeated listens and are sure to serve you well in the long run. Also, check out unbelievably catchy "Eternal Moan," the remake of "Amidst The Waves" (originally from 1995 release "Mirrorland"), and my personal favorite "Against My Will" - the most monumental and brooding track on the album, with near-epic refrain the sole lyric of which is "I am always against, against my will..."
A purist can argue that with this album Mental Home became too accessible or maybe even commercial, what with the Century Media licensing deal. Well, perhaps a bit more accessible, but that in no way diminishes the quality of the music. This is not the kind of band that continuously needs to have underground's sign of approval stamped on its forehead.
Without a doubt, "Upon The Shores..." is a more than worthy succession to the band's previous work. If you are a Mental Home fan, there is no way you will be disappointed now. Tak derzhat' muzhiki!
© 2000 boris
Song writing is, once again, top-notch. "Downstairs," "Late To Revise," "Bliss," "Breakdown," and "Stained" are as good as anything the band did in the past. The songs have a modest feel in a sense that they don't attempt to jump in your face, and don't indulge to excessive grandiloquence and histrionics that plague so much of metal music. But that's the beauty of it because they are extremely well crafted and rewarding. They deserve repeated listens and are sure to serve you well in the long run. Also, check out unbelievably catchy "Eternal Moan," the remake of "Amidst The Waves" (originally from 1995 release "Mirrorland"), and my personal favorite "Against My Will" - the most monumental and brooding track on the album, with near-epic refrain the sole lyric of which is "I am always against, against my will..."
A purist can argue that with this album Mental Home became too accessible or maybe even commercial, what with the Century Media licensing deal. Well, perhaps a bit more accessible, but that in no way diminishes the quality of the music. This is not the kind of band that continuously needs to have underground's sign of approval stamped on its forehead.
Without a doubt, "Upon The Shores..." is a more than worthy succession to the band's previous work. If you are a Mental Home fan, there is no way you will be disappointed now. Tak derzhat' muzhiki!
© 2000 boris