Medusa's Spell
Mercurian Behavior
6.7
It’s been about four years for me at MetalReview.com now, and in that time I’ve managed to avoid reviewing a release from Cold Meat Industries, seemingly one of this site’s rites of passage (along with weak metalcore). Well, every now and then I look at the pile and grab the first couple of things on top without regard for anything other than availability. So here I am, finally popping the proverbial cherry with Medusa’s Spell. While I doubt that this album can be indicative of the entire label, I can’t help but wonder what all the negative fuss is about.
Sure, it’s not metal. Not even close. Shit, for the most part, it’s just a guy with a slightly gothic voice and an acoustic guitar playing dark, somewhat eerie folk music. Sometimes I’m a sucker for acoustic. Besides, it’s not really that far of a line between this and something like Opeth’s Damnation album, although that one was a bit more robust, or even the darker moments of Celtic Frost’s latest, although this isn’t half as engaging. All I’m trying to say is that there IS merit to this disc and shouldn’t necessarily be blown off simply because it’s a Cold Meat Industries product.
Mercurian Behavior is comprised of ten tracks, or acts. According to the band’s website, it is a conceptual album wherein each act represents the confused thoughts and visions of a murderer. Yikes. To further quote: “Lyrics and words are rearranged in different ways and moments to create a hypnotic mantra leading us in different directions and states of emotions; all intertwined through a soft and haunting dark atmosphere created by piano, acoustic guitar, bells, industrial sounds, loops and of course that broken Italian psychotic voice of Daniele Serra [one-half of this project alongside Mara Lasi]. “ Now normally I wouldn’t let any band’s own propaganda represent the heart of a review, but I’m afraid it’s fairly spot-on (and I couldn’t come up with anything better).
I’ve read a few books on the whole Branch Davidian mess in Waco, TX. When friends of the cultists were interviewed (since nobody survived), they all said that when they asked their friends about the appeal of the cult and it’s leader, David Koresh, the answer was always the same: “You just have to hear him speak.” That about sums up my feelings on this one – love it or hate it, you have to hear it to understand it. Sure, it will never be the life of the party and I certainly wouldn’t put it on as a motivational tool, but damned if it isn’t strangely compelling and oddly soothing considering the subject matter. It won’t be for everybody, but if you’re into dark, mellow, minimalist stuff, give Medusa’s Spell a try. They have a few tracks available for download at their website, so what have you got to lose?
