Band: Mantric
Title: The Descent
Label: Prosthetic Records
Distribution: Prosthetic Records
Release date: April 26th 2010
Review: CD

Oslo-based band Mantric was formed in 2007 from the ashes of eccentric formation Extol (and with members involved with e.g. Ganglion and Lengsel), yet with a different musical approach.
The Descent is the band’s first official full length, mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen (Cataract, Aborted, Witchery, Hatesphere, Sons Of Jonathas etc), and recorded with this line-up: Tor M. Glidje (g, v), Ole Sveen (v, g), Kim Akerholdt (d), John Mjaaland (b, v), and Anders S. Lidal (k).
In spite of the rather long duration – the album lasts for over fifty minutes – The Descent stays interesting till the end. As from opening song Asylum 2013, with its bizarre intro, on, the recording combines melody with technical-skilled craftsmanship and intelligent song writing. This resulted in somewhat progressive compositions with experimental breaks, modern song structures and a modest penetration of related genres. The band hails from Norway yet does sound universal and border-passing. The well-performed avant-garde riffs, the great varying vocals and the variation in tempo and melody are other surpluses.
A few times, Mantric do use elements from Punk / Hardcore (The Invasion etc), yet still the complexity is the main basic.
Catchy and grooving Thrash / Emocore with concrete balls!

77/100

Ivan Tibos.