Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Decapitated Blood Mantra Company: Nuclear Blast Release: 2014 Genre: Death Reviewer: Greg Watson

39 minutes of mayhem

Ahhh...Decapitated. These Polish death metal executioners are returning to us with another album, 'Blood Mantra'. This is the band's sixth album and first in three years. The band has had some rough times to deal with leading up to 2011's 'Carnival is Forever'. If you aren't familiar, the band's bus crashed and drummer Vitek, brother of founder Vogg, unfortunately passed away as a result and their current vocalist was in a coma. That's enough to have most bands throw in the towel. But Decapitated chose to take some time, overcome the adversity and return to make the music that they loved. 'Blood Mantra' is a more mature release, yet still possessing that unbelievable heaviness that fans worldwide love. From the opening of "Exiled in Flesh", it's clear that Decapitated is out to show they are still as heavy as they were and are still a force to be reckoned with in the death metal scene. Vocalist "Rasta" Piotrowski's guttural death rasp has been a staple for five years and the anger and venom are flying free on tracks like "Veins", "Instinct" and "Blood Mantra". Musically the album is just so damn heavy. Rapid fire, staccato riffs interlaced with blast beats and throbbing bass delivers a bone jarring assault to the senses and sends energy screaming through the body. Guitarist "Vogg" is still ridiculously fast and technical, adding in some extra melody and speed to leave you with your jaw hitting the floor. The production on the album is perfect, giving it the crunch it needs yet adding a slightly muffled sound to give it some rawness. You can hear every blistering riff, every heart stopping blastbeat and every demonic exhalation as the album bludgeons its way through the 39 minutes of mayhem that comprise this little gem. Bottom line, if you need something to kick you into overdrive or want something that will act as soundtrack for being pissed off at the world or life, ‘Blood Mantra’ is what you need as your next purchase. Hopefully, the wait for the next Decapitated album won't be quite as long. But if it is, and the quality is as impeccable as 'Blood Mantra', I can handle the wait.