Manes "How the World Came to an End" CD
Posted on Wednesday, July 11th, 2007 @ 7:22am » permalink
With "How the World Came to an End" (on Candlelight Records), the long-awaited follow-up to the absolutely brilliant "Vilosophe", boundary-less Norwegian experimentalists Manes continue their Ulver-esque transformation away from any semblance to metal – or even traditional "rock" music of any sort – much less the primitive black metal from which the band was first birthed. Building up and out from the foundation of "Vilosophe", this material is even more avant-garde and electronic-based, from its arrays of glitchy electronics and pounding, industrialized percussive characteristics to lushly textured melodies swirling around and surrounding throbbing basslines and droning guitar work with various forms of nice, flowing singing from a number of different contributors – not to mention several guest vocal spots from obscure hip-hop artists. And when concrete riffs and loose references to "catchy" songwriting elements do start to present themselves (check the impeccable "Nobody Wants the Truth", especially) there are still so many different influences and little twists and turns happening that nothing is able to come across as too stripped down or simplistic, so… there's definitely a hell of a lot going on here, and it can certainly be attributed to a very intricate and patient artistic vision. It's important to note that they don't lose focus or take things over the top, however. The album contains 10 tracks in just about 45 minutes, so there's a sense of control and cohesion that keeps things interesting and consistent without lacking variety or dynamics. It's definitely not overkill, and it's great that such considerations have obviously been given thought here. I think "Vilosophe" was a stronger album when all is said and done, but there's some beautiful work amongst these tracks (and honestly the hip-hop elements are actually really fucking cool), and I'm still a huge fan of this most respectable outfit. Very cool, and certainly something different from the norm, which is always nice…
Manes "Nobody Wants the Truth"
Manes "Deeprooted"
As always, make the purchase if this is something that interests you:
July 11th, 2007 @ 8:26 am
I love this band and this record is totally insane but in a very good way, in fact, when I get home, I'll be spinning this mofo again.
July 11th, 2007 @ 9:43 am
well. dissapointment for me, a step forward but into the void.
July 11th, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
absolutly great record!
July 11th, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
wow, thats some weird stuff. sounds like it should be somewhere on the Ipecac label. i am enjoying it though…..
July 11th, 2007 @ 2:10 pm
by the way, if i like this is there anything else anyone can recomend?
July 11th, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
This band came out of nowhere for me. I really dig the trip-hop feel.
L.Ron…. try Massive Attack, Portishead, Tricky if you like the trip-hop kind of stuff. Kekal's newest album The Habit of Fire is another avant-garde weirdo album I can recommend.
July 11th, 2007 @ 2:39 pm
I've only heard their black metal stuff, but damn, this is some solid shit.
July 11th, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
ive been waiting to hear more before i buy this. now i just might. after i heard the lame [view] EP i didnt have very high hopes that they could ever come close to the greatness of vilosophe. and maybe they havent here either, but at least it doesnt suck. who are the hip hop contributors? if kool keith is on this jizzam, im laying out the big head franklin bills.
July 12th, 2007 @ 10:37 pm
Awesome record, much better than Vilosophe imo; def. one of the year's best. Oppressively dark in the best sort of way. The trip-hop elements make this album for me. "Come To Pass" and "The Cure-All" are my current faves.
July 14th, 2007 @ 8:22 pm
Ewww, that first track sounds like Isis rip-off guitar backed by hip hop beats w/ emo boy vocals on top. Gross!
Good trip hop:
DJ Shadow 'Entroducing'
Portishead
Fourtet(not exactly but in that realm)
some Massive Attack
July 20th, 2007 @ 1:01 pm
This album, along with KEKAL "The Habit of Fire" and SIGH "Hangman's Hymn" are one of the best avant-garde releases in 2007 (forget the circus metal type of 'avant-garde' like Sleepytime Gorrilla Museum, Diablo Swing Orchestra, Fantomas, etc.). If you're into darker-deeper electronic trip-hop kind of stuff & want to know some more 'former black metal' bands playing it, KEKAL's new album "The Habit of Fire" is probably the best bet. http://www.myspace.com/kekal