“If
we seek forgiveness, the burden will increase”
Get your vacuum and explore that mansion!
A snowy ground & icy fields, a flow of pristine crystal clear water flowing down the river bank or Saku Koivu being an awesome captain. All these things are reminding me of Finland but at the same time, it's things I know I'm familiar with in my own northern Eden. Populated with aurora borealis and unexpected skiers, both countries can be perceived as similar. But we, Canadians, aren't used to saunas and weird accents everywhere. While we compose boring tech death and frigid, conservative black metal, the Finns, the de facto metal kings of the world, are playing a vast array of genres and the style Mansion decided to explore is one of my favored right now. In fact, this is perhaps the best release the Scandinavian country (or is it Scandinavia, who cares except geographers and historians anyway?) has offered to the so-called recent occult rock/metal movement.
Get your vacuum and explore that mansion!
A snowy ground & icy fields, a flow of pristine crystal clear water flowing down the river bank or Saku Koivu being an awesome captain. All these things are reminding me of Finland but at the same time, it's things I know I'm familiar with in my own northern Eden. Populated with aurora borealis and unexpected skiers, both countries can be perceived as similar. But we, Canadians, aren't used to saunas and weird accents everywhere. While we compose boring tech death and frigid, conservative black metal, the Finns, the de facto metal kings of the world, are playing a vast array of genres and the style Mansion decided to explore is one of my favored right now. In fact, this is perhaps the best release the Scandinavian country (or is it Scandinavia, who cares except geographers and historians anyway?) has offered to the so-called recent occult rock/metal movement.
Compared
to fellow countrymen Jess and the Ancient Ones, Mansion is definitely
part of the metal universe. The doom metal influence is thoroughly
present albeit combined with a sort of psychedelic, atmospheric or
even Gothic rock sound. The four songs EP has this dark, shady aura
inspired by this religious Finnish Christian sect from the early 20th
century called Kartanoism. To explain it briefly, this sect included child
preachers, complete sexual abstinence, nightly sermons, end of the
world expectations and very strict rules. I'm obviously not an expert on the subject, but
I'm pretty interested and I'll categorically investigate the matter.
Religions are often dark enough to be a totally apt lyrical field for
metal bands, as it gives an airy, sermonizing vibe and it's totally the case here. At twenty-two
minutes, I wish the sermon was longer, my mind was ready to hit the
floor for the return of Jesus, my brothers! Of course, I do believe
the religious inspiration is mostly a gimmick, but it's a gimmick
that works here. Even “mansion” means something like
“kartanorakennus” in Finnish to expand on their theme. They don't need evil popes, no
ma'am.
While
the music is more simple than occult rockers like The Devil's Blood
or Year of the Goat, it's as or even more emotional. The female
vocals are pretty damn awesome; mesmerizing and charming but also
dark and bewitching. The delivery of the yet unknown singer (named
Alma, the same name the leader of this cult had) is top notch. The
high, sexy vocals are creating a dichotomy with the “SEX IS THE DEVIL”
ideology of Kartanoism. I rarely heard such sex appeal in a doom
metal band, I would probably climb on the sacrificial altar myself if
I was ordered to by her. The vintage rock vocals really made the band
for me, a bit like Jess' vocals made JatAO one of my favourite albums
of 2012.
There's
no really intricate guitar solos or fourteen minutes songs here
though, apart from the exceptional first track that is seven minutes, all tracks are around five minutes. It's a
pretty catchy release that left me breathless. Intense emotions
aside, the band knows how to measure out their approach, it's not
overwhelming. It could had been way more progressive, heavier or even
more experimental. But what's so good is the mix of small quantities
of everything into their memorable formula. I mean, yes, it would had
been awesome to hear a more complex songwriting but as a first release, it
established a luscious formula. The tempos are mostly mid paced to
slow with pretty simple, yet interesting riffs. I mean, compared to a
band like Jex Thoth, it has riffs
and not only a special atmosphere with a focus on the vocals. “We
Shall Live” has a rich, subtle instrumentation that we can hear in
the last track “Slumber Sermon”. It has some noisy feedback and
an ingenious but mysterious use of keyboards that is also opening the
EP. You can imagine the despair and brainwashing that this religious
community lived with in its era and the piercing cold of the wind on your
face.
Their
dark, fun and entrancing doom is simply of the highest quality you
can find. Maybe their sound is not the most adventurous and they're
perhaps openly riding a trendy wave but they're doing it in the best way possible. Mansion already achieved a level of maturity that will make
Selim Lemouchi blush and punch random people in the streets. Greatness
is already a given, I wonder what's next. They're without a doubt
the best new doom band of 2013.
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