Doctor Midnight & The Mercy Cult: I Declare- Treason

The newly (and very quickly) formed Norwegian 'supergroup' Doctor Midnight & the Mercy Cult's debut I Declare: Treason arrives amid much hype. Featuring members of Turbonegro, Marilyn Manson, KMFDM, Satyricon, Celtic Frost, and many more, expectations are high. Running the gamut of every subgenre each member has been involved in, the album reflects the combined heritage of its members and is an album brimming with huge riffs, catchy melodies and choruses, and plenty of hooks. Hard-hitting, their sound has the darkness of industrial goth, the steady stomp of Rob Zombie's attempt at shock rock, the anti-establishment defiance of hardcore punk, and the riffs of thrash and classic metal. With a suitably grandiloquent opening dubbed 'You are God', followed by 'Sign My Name' and the title track, the band's brazen stance is firmly established in the huge riffs and rebellious lyrics. However, for the remainder of the album there is little fluctuation from the formula hammered out on these tracks and is fleshed out by too many fillers to be considered anything unique. The vocals are laden with attitude akin to Iggy Pop, yet Hank von Helvete's range is limited, his melodies relying on precise on-the-beat accents, which, combined with rhyming dictionary-lyrics make the songs predictable in their unadventurous rhythms and form. Call it punk simplicity, but I Declare: Treason is more style than substance and too contrived and polished to be considered raw rock 'n roll. Once denoting something great, the 'supergroup' label has come to be attached to any collection of people that features someone – anyone – that has served time in a semi-successful band, whether as a hired hand or replacement for a key member and so this modern interpretation of the term could be no better applied. More a "Who?" than a "Who's who", Doctor Midnight & The Mercy Cult's 'supergroup' status will be a little more ephemeral than most. Maybe we'll see them on Eurovision…

Track Listing:
1. You Are God – Intro
2. Sign My Name
3. I Declare: Treason
4. Bleed Idiot Bleed
5. (Don't) Waste It
6. Blame Is The Game
7. OK (We're Just About To Die)
8. Misconception
9. Glory (Throw The Axe)
10. Revenge
11. Victorious

Added: November 22nd 2011
Reviewer: Jason Guest
Score:
Related Link: More Information
Hits: 4366
Language: english

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