EMANCER – The Menace Within

Fourth full-length of Norwegian ranger duo EMANCER is filled with many surprises as to find in almost every single track. Kicking off with Enter Goddamned CNS that at first turns out into a fast black metal attack as it’s known different keyboard lines flow in a little later that catch your ears as well as some unusual electronically alienated singing. Likewise unexpected following Volatile Winter gets introduced by acoustic, bass-driven and sorta trippy sound parts, falling back into typical black metal fields afterwards but blending in odd breaks, stops, keys and samples. So the band goes on adding the clean voice of Helstein as in Claustrophobium, Reclamation Of Merciless January and Bloodwhore which sounds quite strange too but has a fancy touch. Whatever these gents try out they always do it with full power, delivering driving riffs galore backed by a downright ass-kicking production you cannot stop head-banging. Despite of all the gadgetry sound experiments don’t get out of hands (although the keys on Pallid Eyes are really spacy) making The Menace Within to an audible unique avant-garde black metal pleasure. Drawing to a close crazy and surprising moments sag, now coquetting with some death metal aspects but always keeping high the level of aggression and power. Another bonus has to be the cover artwork and booklet that is aside of all clichés. Has a quite artistic touch. Great work!