Our “Top 15″ lists will be released on Thursday, but let’s face it, you all barely read the descriptions we write about each album; it’s way more fun to just look at the albums, scroll to the bottom to see what we ranked #1, then fire off a hasty and ill-informed barb in the comments section. So I’d like to take a few minutes to tell you about Mantric’s awesome album The Descent, released earlier this year on Prosthetic, in greater detail; it’s a phenomenal debut that hasn’t turned nearly as many heads as it should have.

Some bands are content to rehash and follow what their peers are doing; others are content to rehash and follow what their peers are doing while changing the equation up just a little bit; still others are willing to completely think outside the box and create something truly new and original. Mantric are in the latter category, and The Descent is a stellar debut record that’s one of the freshest sounding of 2010.

Click to read more…

Just so you know, when Vince and I cuddle, he’s usually the big spoon.

Here’s what happened in MetalSucks Land this week:

• Misery Index’s Jason Netherton joined us for the latest edition of Cooking Contaminated.
• Intronaut’s Sacha Dunable wondered if corporate-sponsored metal shows are killing the live concert market.
• We chatted with Soilwork’s Peter Wichers, Mantric’s Ole Halvard Sveen, and Black Army Jacket’s Carlos Ramirez.
• We checked out new releases by Norma Jean and Lightning Swords of Death.
• We celebrated the excellent year currently being enjoyed by Metal Blade Records.
• Korn played to the largest audience they deserve. (That would be an audience of zero.)
• New BOO means debates by you.
• Poison the Well poisoned our week.
• We were on the Metal Injection Livecast!
• Booty shake.

Next week is hair metal week! We’ll still be reporting on regular metal, too, so don’t freak out too hard. See ya Monday.

-AR

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.

Click to read more…

EVERYBODY SING WITH ME NOW: “I FEEL PRETTY, OH SO PRETTY, I FEEL PRETTY, AND WITTY, AND BRIIIIIIIGHT!”

No West Side Story fans in the house? No one? Okay, fuck it. Here’s what happened in the world of FUCKING METAL this week:

• We’re streaming Mantric’s The Descent in its entirety.
• We’re giving away new tracks by Nevermore and Heaven Shall Burn.
• We debuted a new video by Karma to Burn.
• Cynic’s Paul Masvidal meditated on unexplained healings, As I Lay Dying’s Nick Hipa gave us a refresher on L O S T, The Austerity Program’s Justin Foley thinks it’s okay to enjoy music by scumbags, Intronaut’s Sacha Dunable wants your help naming his new band, and Eyal from Daath and Levi/Werstler wants you to start ordering CDs online.
• We spoke to Mike Patton and Brian Posehn.
• Slayer and Megadeth are both doing full album performances on their American Carnage tour; Testament, not so much.
• Rose Funoral just can’t live down their past.

Next week brings so many interviews and exclusives it’ll make your head explode. See ya then!

-AR

It’s funny how things work out sometimes; no sooner did I publish a post at noon proclaiming my desire to hear the entire new Mantric record (out today!) than I got an email from the band saying “Hey, here’s the record. Wanna stream it?” But of course we do.

So while this is most likely your first time listening to Mantric’s The Descent, it’s mine too; and so far I really, really like what I’m hearing. Turns out the record is a whole lot more diverse than the “Neurisis meets Opeth via Converge production” description I gave it earlier based on the tracks posted on MySpace; this record is really all over the metal map, and in a great way. Mantric inflict their progressive take on everything and the results are amazing. The band I’d actually liken them to most is The Ocean, if not quite in sound then definitely in concept.

Listen to The Descent and let us know what you think. If you like it, considering ordering a copy for just $10 or with a t-shirt for $20.

-VN

[this promotion has ended]

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