Manes
Trondheim quintet Manes have returned with a musical bounty of an album. 'How the World Came to an End' is an absolutely fantastic album. Formerly known as a black metal band, having supported the likes of Kreator and Danzig, Manes have returned from the wilderness with what can only be described as an experimental concept album.
The first track, 'Deeprooted', shows how far Manes have come from their auspicious beginnings as a Trondheim metal band. A wonderful amalgamation of electronica and metal really sets the tone for the album. 'Come to Pass' follows and really stands out as one of the best tracks of the album. Although it is far removed from the musical ideas that 'Deeprooted' brings in.
And here comes the over riding problem with this album. I love this album. It's fantastic to listen to; each track holds a special significance within the album and stands alone from its peers. However, because of this it doesn't feel like an album. It feels like a collection of various tracks which took the producer's fancy, a 'Now That's What I Call Music: Awesome Metal/Electronica, if you will'. There is nothing wrong with this album other than that.
Of course there are weak points in the album, 'My Journal Of The Plague', is the only weak track on the album, where Manes venture a little far towards the ridiculous Power Metal side, but other than that the album is solid. Personal highlights for me are 'Come to Pass' and 'The Cure-All', both a wonderful infusion of metal, electronica and rap. If Manes produced a consistent album along the theme of these two songs, they would really be onto a winning formula. Alas, they haven't and what is left are spouts of individual brilliance and collective confusion.
But seriously, buy this album. If you can see past certain genres and appreciate something different, this album is probably for you. I feel horribly schizophrenic about this album, I haven't stopped listening to it since it arrived at my door and yet doesn't 'feel' like someone's collective works, however, the individual brilliance of some of tracks shines through so much, that it makes me want to shout the name of 'Manes' from the roof tops.