Mantric’s The Descent is really one of the better records to come out so far in 2010. Featuring three ex-members of Extol, The Descent is a whirlwind of metallic soundscapes, NeurIsis post rock, brute force and gentle jazzy psychedelia, rolled up into a modern progressive shell that pushes the outer limits of what is considered metal in 2010. We streamed the record when it came out this Spring, and through a few other posts over the months I can only hope I’ve given the band the exposure they need to reach the ears of you, the potential adoring listener.

Guitarist Ole Halvard Sveen hopes so too. He emailed us to thank us for the coverage we’ve given the band, we got to chatting back and forth, and bang! zip! boom! we ended up with this interview. Click through to read Olehalvard take on the split of Extol, the decision to form Mantric as a new project contain three of the same members, the band’s writing process, the album’s artwork and what lies ahead for the band.

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Today is the day we finally get to hear new music from Norway’s Mantric, the band formed from the ashes of Extol (who called it quits in 2007). Like much of the Prosthetic Records roster, Mantric offer a proggy take on something a touch more accessible; in this case a captivating hybrid of Isis / Cult of Luna style heavy done up more intricately and ornately and with a touch of post-hardcore riffery and vocals. If Opeth ever decided to dabble in the Neurisis axis of metal and recorded with Kurt Ballou helming the boards it’d probably sound something like Mantric.

I’ve actually only heard the two songs posted on Mantric’s MySpace page, but today marks the U.S. release of their debut album The Descent (it came out yesterday in Europe). I‘ve been waiting for this one for a while, and I can’t to smoke a bowl and dig in.

Pre-order The Descent here for only $10, or $20 with a t-shirt.

-VN

Any time a press release comes in from Prosthetic Records announcing a new band signing, the link is always worth clicking. Take Norway’s Mantric, who despite their home country are perhaps the farthest thing from black metal imaginable. I’m really, really digging what Mantric have posted on their MySpace page; this is metal that’s cerebral, proggy (but not shreddy), jazzy, challenging and still accessible. Some of you might be excited to know that the band features ex-members of Extol. Color me psyched for their Prosthetic debut which is being mixed by Tue Madsen and is due out in February.

Oh hey and look at that slammin’ new MySpace design (part of which you’re looking at on top of this post)? It was hand-drawn by the illustrious Jesse Zuretti of MetalSucks faves The Binary Code. In case any of you guys out there who are in bands are looking for a spiffed-up new MySpace design.

-VN