MANTICORE
"For
Rats and Plague" (Deathgasm/Hell's Headbangers; 2006/2005)
Reviewed by Christopher J. Kelter
The U.S. Midwest has been a hotbed for extreme music for some time with
Ohio heading up the charge. This hotbed of activity has mainly taken the form of underground acts going about their business in traditional ways
while taking advantage of modern technology to expose the band’s output to the metal masses.
The Manticore represented by “For Rats and Plague” is not to be confused with the older, now defunct Austrian band
Manticore. “For Rats and Plague” contains traditional black metal that veers closely to blackened
death metal more often than not. Manticore stands as a testament’s to black metal’s origins – think Venom and Bathory for cues to understand
Manticore’s sound and style. “For Rats and Plague” features 10 tracks that blaze by in 31 minutes – the relentless pacing and aggression is
consistent and satisfying.
“For Rats and Plague” features a cover of Archgoat’s “Rise of the Black Moon” – previously unknown to me,
this is a fast/mid-paced gem that in its original form could be a hallmark track in old-school black metal and is
probably treated with much respect by Manticore.
“For Rats and Plague” was produced by Manticore and engineered by Mike Carlton.
Manticore: Satanael on vocals and guitars, Ixitychyl on bass and vocals, and The Maggot Wrangler on drums.
For more information visit http://www.myspace.com/manticore666.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2006 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 18 Mar 2024 11:16:02 -0500.
