Ode to the Flame is the Nuclear Blast debut from the German duo of Hanno (vocals, guitar) and Erinc (drums, vocals), better known to the world as Mantar. Though only together as a band since 2013, their strong debut, which melded the styles of black metal, doom, and punk, grabbed the attention of fans & critics alike, and their latest Ode to the Flame, with the backing of their new label, is sure to take things one step further. The ten tracks on display here cross a multitude of styles and tones, from the venomous, blackened punk of "Carnival Rising" & "Praise the Plague", to the more doom laden crushers like "The Hint", "Born Reversed", "OZ", and "I Omen". Plenty of dark, heavy riffs throughout, with the vocals ranging from agonizing screams, growls, and eerie rasps from the duo, adding to the overall ominous tone of the album. Even when they switch gears and inject some good old fashioned hard rock into their extreme sound, as they do on "Cross the Cross", the results are quite satisfying.
These two guys managed to create a pretty huge wall of sound here on Ode to the Flame, an album that's going to push a lot of the right buttons for extreme metal fans of all ages. Recommended.
Track Listing
1. Carnal Rising
2. Praise The Plague
3. Era Borealis
4. The Hint
5. Born Reversed
6. OZ
7. I Omen
8. Cross The Cross
9. Schwanenstein
10. Sundowning