When I noticed that Johan Liiva (ex-Arch Enemy) did some
guest vocals on this album I knew it would be interesting to listen to the
result. Unfortunately the vocals on the new album from the Japanese
Manipulated Slaves are not that good. I suspect that it at least somewhat
depends on the production because the two featured female vocalists Yuko of
Fatima Hill and Saeko (ex-Fairy Mirror) also sound a little weak. On the other
hand we have an impressive sound coating as it comes to the music. The kind of
death/thrash metal hybrid that these Osaka natives have devoted their
instruments to is perhaps not quite as melodic and impressing as that of
fellow Swedish bands like In Flames and At The Gates but it is not bad at all.
The best moments of this band is when they indulge in the melodic heavy metal
sound as on one of the highlights of the album - "Eyes Filled With Tears" -
a great groovy track with both clean female and semi-growling male vocals. The
beautiful melodies á la In Flames also deserves to be mentioned. One thing I
don't like about the album though is that the drum machine is used a little
too often.
written by Vincent Eldefors
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Tracklist
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1. Thrust |
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Sword Into The Earth
2. The Way Of The Emperor
3. Woman In The |
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Ironmask
4. The Broken Chain
5. Eyes Filled With Tears
6. |
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Man From The Horizon
7. Capital Punishment
8. Assault On The |
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Enemy
9. Bearing The Final Pain
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Playing time: 39.53
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Buy other Manipulated Slaves albums
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