Manticore/Endless Scourge Of Torment/Hells Headbangers Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Ohio's  Manticore  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  bestial  black/death  metal  style  from  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Endless  Scourge  Of  Torment"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  Hells  Headbanger  Records.

  A  synth  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  bass  guitars  onto  the  recording  before  going  into  a  very  fast,  raw  and  brutal  war  metal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  while t he  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  bestial  growls.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  music  also  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  old  school  influences.  A  small  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  throat  singing  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling.

  When  guitar  leads  are  utilized  briefly  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  style  and  they  also  bring  in  a  cover of  Twisted  Sister's  "Captain  Howdy"  as  well  as   synths  also  making  a  brief  return  return  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Blasphemy,  Evil,  Death  and  Torture  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Manticore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  war  and  bestial  black/death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Thy  Seed  Through  The  Fire"  "Halo  of  Vermin"  "In  Dark  We  Are  Enslaved"  and  "Abrahamic  Obliteration".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/17D5RIFsnpY

  
  

  

Manticore/Ritual Slaughter/Depraved Sacraments/Tridroid Records/Bleak Bone Mortualia/2015 Split EP Review

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  ep  between  Ohio's  Manticore  and  New  York's  Ritual  Slaughter  called "Depraved Sacraments"  which  will  be  released  as  a  joint  effort  in  November  between  Tridroid Records  and  Bleak Bone Mortualia  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Manticore  a  band  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  bestial  form  of  black/death  metal.

  Their side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  dark  and  heavy  doom/death  metal  sound  along  with  some  growls  and  grim  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  and  the  riffs  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  morbid  sounding  melodies  and  after  a  minute  the  music  goes  into  a  faster  musical  direction  along  with  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.

  The  song  also  starts  mixing  in  a  good  balance  between  slow  and  fast  parts  along  with  their  track  being  7  minutes  in  length  and  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  even  more  of  an  old  school  death  metal  sound  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a very  powerful  sound,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  blasphemous  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  track from  Manticore  which  shows  them  adding in  a  touch  of  doom/death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  enjoy  their  side  of  the  split.

  Next  up  is  Ritual  Slaughter  a  band  that  plays  a  bestial  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  dark  and  old  school  black/death  metal  sound  that  is  very  raw  and  incorporates  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  grim  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  incorporate  a  great  amount  of  morbid  sounding  melodies  and  when  the  music  slows  down  a  touch  of  doom/death  metal  can  be  heard  along  with  the  vocals  incorporating  more  growls  and  the  songs  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  the  production  sounds  very  powerful  while  the  lyrics  cover  demonic  and  blasphemous  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Ritual  Slaughter  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death  and  war  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Demonic  Converions".

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  bestial,  black,  death  and  war  metal.  8  out  of  10.   

Manticore side (excerpt): https://youtu.be/aewz8rPE3hE
Ritual Slaughter side (one full song): https://youtu.be/L7vpJSuUDSk

     

Manticore Interview

1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Hails! Right now we just got off the road after doing 7 shows with Deiphago in the midwest and northeast US. We also just released our first album in 7 years "Behold the Ascension of the Execrated".

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous recordings?
I think the sound is similar to the sound we have always had, ugly and simple, just a little more raw than the previous releases. This was recorded in a basement almost entirely live so it has that organic, old-school feel to it we think.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the new release explores?
The new album is a collection of hymns to Satan and against the weakness that is christianity. Songs like Denying the Resurrection and Abhorrent Baptism in the Vestal Cavity are full out onslaughts against all that is holy. While a song like Filth upon Filth is our view of society today.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
A Manticore is a beast with the body of a lion, tail of a scorpion and the head of a man. It is the perfect combination to attack with and therefore we found it to be a fitting name for our style of blackend death metal.

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
As of right now, the Boston and NYC shows on the just finished tour were some of the best with the current line-up, both crowds were completely insane which makes it easier to completely get into the music. On stage, we attack from the first song and only relent when the set is finished.

6. Do you have any touring plans for the new release?
As mentioned earlier, we just finished a small tour with Deiphago, and for now we have no plans to tour again until sometime next summer, just a few shows here and there in the meantime while we work on new material.

7. Your new album had a Venom cover, what was the decision behind doing a cover of this classic tune?
We are all huge Venom fans, they were one of the first bands I got into back in the mid 80's so they have always meant alot to me. Plus, they are the complete package; pure hard-rock, punk fueled SATANIC heavy metal!!! We thought this sound would fit in with the new material and In Nomine Satanas was chosen as the best fit.

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your new album by those that have heard it so far?
So far, all the reviews we have seen seem to be good, it has only been out for a few weeks, so we will all have to wait and see what people think in the long run. But, to us, we like it, and that is all that matters!

9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
I think that the style on this album and that of the 2 splits released in the last year are where we are as a band. A mixture of blasting insanity and thick heavy riffs. This is a natural extension of what we have always done, so it will always be in this vein.

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
The same stuff that we have always listened to; Venom, Archgoat, Hellhammer, Motorhead, the classick stuff i grew up with. I've been listening to alot of those still, plus Possessed, Prosanctus Inferi, Witch King is really killer, Satanik Goat Ritual, alot of raw filthy music.

11. How would you describe your views on Satanism and Occultism?
My views are a mesh of many views, I feel Crowley has it right most of the time, in Do What Thou Will, I will say that I think religious views are best left to the individual, as otherwise it sounds preachy, or like you are trying to start a jim jones style cult. I need no one to lead me, or to feel they are above me in some level, they aren't.

12. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
Other than music, i do little, besides the typical day to day human existence, the only things i enjoy outside of creating blasphemy, are my heathens, who will one day follow in my footsteps!

13. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
We want to thank you for your support and for helping to spread the filth that is Manticore!   Hails!

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Manticore/Behold The Ascension Of The Execrated/Deathgasm Records/2012 CD Review

  Manticore  are  a  band  from  Ohio  that  has  been  featured  before  in  the  zine  with  a  musical  style  that  I  would  describe  as  being  bestial  black/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "Behold  The  Ascension  Of  The  Execrated"  which  was  released  by  Deathgasm  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  utilized  at  times ,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  bestial  black  metal  riffs  that  are  very  raw  and  primitive  sounding  with  the  darker  riffing  having  a  create  amount  of  death  metal  influences  to  them  along  with  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  there  are  no  guitar  solos  or  leads  present  on  this  recording.

  Vocals  are  all  high  pitched  black/death  metal  screams  and  growls,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark,  satanic  and  blasphemous  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  raw  and primitive  sound to  it.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  recording  from  Manticore  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "From The  Darkness  Below"  "Abhorrent  Blasphemy  In  The  Vestal  Cavity"  "Denying  The  Resurrection"  and  "In  Nomine  Sathanas" which  is  a  Venom  cover.  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

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Manticore/Bowels Of The Holy Anoint Us In Evil/War Hammer Records/2002 CD Review

  Manticore  are  a  band  from  Ohio  that  plays  a  bestial  form  of  black/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2002  album  "Bowels  Of  The  Holy  Anoint  Us  In  Evil"  which  was  released  by  War  Hammer  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  a  great  amount  of  brutal  sounding  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music,  while  the  bass   playing  has  a  very  and  powerful  tone  with  heavy  black/death  metal  riffing  that  dominates  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  raw  and  primitive  sounding  bestial  black  metal  with  the  darkest  and  most  evil  elements  of  death  metal,  while the  lead  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  are  very  chaotic  sounding   black/death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals range  from  high  pitched  bestial  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  some  deep  black/death  metal  growls,  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Anti  Christian  and  Dark  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  raw  and  primitive  sound  to  it  while  you  can s till  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

In  my  opinion  Manticore  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  bestial  black  metal  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style  of  music,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Our  Will  Is  His"  "Feast  Of  The  Beast"  "Urine  Flowing  Through  The  Veins  Of  Christ"  and  "Demonic  Rites".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

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