MANIC ABRAXAS
MANIC ABRAXAS “Skinformation”
By Dr. Abner Mality
Tickled pink to see these quirky metalheads from Maine back at it. Their last one “Foreign Winds” was a grimy, goofy exploration of multiple heavy genres that stuck out like a proud nail on a board full of bands that had their individuality hammered down. Is “Skinformation” cut from the same ragged cloth?
They sure haven’t cleaned up their sound any. This is full of stench and murk, with no trace of digital intervention whatsoever. MANIC ABRAXAS is defiantly filthy and this time around, they really cut loose with their heavier and more primitive side. Their “name” song “Manic Abraxas” bursts forth with raging cacophony and then hits some dirty, skanky grooves like CELTIC FROST with Tom Warrior-like grunting vocals to boot. This song is almost a slap across the face of bands that produce their music with cut and paste software...it sounds recorded live in the studio.
If possible, “TranscendX” is even more of an ugly beast and the best song here. Plenty of VENOM/FROST/MOTORHEAD vibes and riffs to break your neck. So far, this is crazy good if you like punk-influenced metal. The caveman drumming, heavy on the cymbals, is another trademark of the band. “Nanodust” is more crushing punk metal, but for the first time, the sounds of analog synth are detected. Which is a good place to mention that the album seems to be heavily drenched in dystopian cyberpunk vibes….whether it’s a concept album or not, I cannot tell you.
“Winter’s Mute” is where things start getting weird in the MANIC ABRAXAS style I’ve come to expect. Choppy industrial riffs ala PRONG encounter gloomy post-punk moaning vocals that would make Bela Lugosi rise from the dead. The raw heavy feel is still there, but there’s a lot of Goth in this tune. The band reminds me in some ways of RUDIMENTARY PENI and AMEBIX here. The title track is trudging, plodding doom...the first truly doom metal cut despite the PR sheet labelling them as such. The doom mixes with faster riffs and there’s a hellacious guitar solo in there, too.
Beneath the surface dirt and grime, I actually detect BLUE OYSTER CULT in the catchier, more rock-oriented riffs of “Cyber Satyr”. This sounds like a different band than the one that started the album with a bulldozer riff. The more Goth vocals are back, too. “Dark Builder” is propelled by a mean bass/drum attack and brings back the crushing CELTIC FROST/AMEBIX guitar sound. A very primitive track despite the brief twin harmony guitar solo amidships. The album ends with “Neurogenic Magician”, which starts doomy but surprises by having some soaring clean vocal melodies…I’m not sure that worked all that well.
Although “Skinformation” is altogether heavier and rawer than “Foreign Winds”, it retains MANIC ABRAXAS’ almost playful tendency to surprise the listener. I absolutely recommend and endorse this band!