Keeping a band going for so long is quite a feat, with perhaps the greatest challenge coming with it being the need to regularly evolve and stay fresh. Easier said than done, but one group has been able to pull it off – Norwegian quintet Manes, who have been on the grind for 25+ years now, and are showing no signs of stopping as they prepare to deliver their next album, Slow Motion Death Sequence.

Going in, you would naturally expect the record to encompass a general sound that is consistent throughout, but not in this case, for Manes have taken it upon themselves to unleash their creativity and experiment with a wide range of differing sounds, with a result that means there are no two songs that are completely alike. As cliché as it is to say, the album is just like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get.

There are a multitude of tracks that generate a sense of atmosphere and feature gripping hooks, those that lean in a more electronic direction with strong harmonies to boot, a few more mellow and straight-forward in style that build up to grand climaxes, and there are some that cannot be easily categorised at all, naturally keeping with the theme of straying from the norm, before they eventually culminate on a darker, grainy tone.

This is hands down one of the more intriguing records to be released in the genre as of late, that captivates with an expansive diversity and a sense of unpredictability which makes for a compelling experience, and hopefully it could inspire more bands out there – both the veterans and the up-and-comers – to take a chance, be inventive and try something a little different.

*HIGHLIGHTS***

Endetidstegn, Last Resort, Scion, Chemical Heritage, Night Vision

AVAILABLE ON FRIDAY 24th AUGUST

IN ASSOCIATION WITH STAMPEDE PRESS