Style: death/Opeth-core (mixed vocals)
Review by: Dylan
Country: Luxembourg
Release date: 4 June, 2021
Since the birth of progressive metal, the genre has gone through an abundant amount of transformation. What was once a radio hit in “Pull me Under” made a mark so influential that it (either indirectly or directly) inspired metal artists all over the world to *expand* the foundations of their subgenres. Thus, Opeth came in and created a style of death metal that clearly separates its most intense moments with a variance of clean melodies (acoustic or not), giving birth to a genre we essentially call Opeth-core (to separate itself from the other branch of prog-death which is more rooted in technicality and “mathiness”). Opeth-core became what Dream Theater was to clean vocal progressive metal, as in, it became a genre-staple that nearly every single artist fell in love with and wanted to inspire. Even over 10 years since the last album with Akerfeldt growls, it continues to make an influence well into the 2020’s. Mindpatrol is a prime example of that; they take a formula we know and love and immerse themselves into it. However, they do something essential which is actually injecting some very unique flair into the formula, rather than attempt a note for note worship (Looking at you, TRILLIONS OF BANDS WE”VE REVIEWED FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS)
But how do they change things up you may ask? Well, by taking a page from core-oriented music, conceptualizing an entire story into the album, and utilizing narration to further explain said concept. This leads to mixed results.
On one hand, I really like their way of utilizing core elements without making a Metalcore album, fooling around with riffs of said genre and even going through polyrhythms that are nigh-on similar to the drilling you experience when listening to a band like The Dillinger Escape Plan. It adds a layer of depth to the instrumentals without really making it too much to handle, thanks to a really well handled criteria of when (and when not) to use it. I would say that the moments where they’re expertly crafted into the compositions are undoubtedly my favorites on the album. The attempts at making a bigger than life concept, with tracks that seamlessly flow into each other, come up as a double edged sword: On one hand it leads to some immensely satisfying track transitions that have remained ingrained in my memory…. on the other, I don’t think this album has enough variance to make each track distinguishable without a clear outro on each.
Lastly, the narration: I’m no fan. To be fair to them, it’s something that I rarely enjoy as it is insanely difficult for me to not find it corny (in the bad way). But I think that even with that in mind it’s still underwhelming, it comes in late into the album and it just feels like an afterthought because they forgot to give exposure on certain story elements. And to sadly add to the list of things I’m not a fan of: The rest of the album failed to strike me as noteworthy even if there wasn’t anything inherently wrong with it.
All in all, Ikaria may be someone else’s favorite underground album but it certainly isn’t mine. I feel like all the correct elements are present but it continuosly misses that “itch” that elevates a decent album to a great one. The album remains consistently OK, but rarely amazed me.
Recommended tracks: What the Birds don’t know, Freedom and the birdcage
Recommended for fans of: Opeth, Between the Buried and Me
Final verdict: 6/10
Related links: Spotify | Official Site | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Label: Independent
Mindpatrol is:
– Luc Francois (vocals)
– Yann Weidig (guitars)
– Julien Barbarito (bass)
– Romain Gruselle (drums)
– Miguel Gruselle (guitars)
etc.
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