MENTALLO & THE FIXER - Burnt Beyond Recognition
Songs: 11  Time: 73:42
Mentallo & the Fixer have been around for nearly a decade now and with each release their music becomes richer and richer.  On Burnt Beyond Recognition, Dwayne and Gary create some of their best tracks to date.  Although most of the pieces aren’t as abrasive as some of their earlier work, all the complexity, aggression, and fortitude are present.  Along with these elements comes a new addition, stronger melodies.  Many of these melodies are found in the elegant sequences on tracks such as the album opener, Tachyon.  With very few lyrics, this piece begins what could quite possibly be Mentallo’s best album to date.  The pounding rhythm line in Crypto-Anarcist is complemented with cyber styled sequences and growling sound effects.  Mother of Harlots (which is to be the next single off of Burnt Beyond Recognition) is comprised of clanging orchestral samples, a galloping beat, pulsating sequences, and choppy, distorted vocals.  Over top of it all this is a nicely programmed, higher toned sequence which fades in and out of the entire piece.  Goliath is a fast paced piece with a steady rhythm line, demonic / echoing vocals, and a near break-beat.  A moodier atmosphere is developed on Radiant, a non threatening instrumental which gives the listener a break from the harshness of the previous tracks.  The cyber rhythm line returns on Crypto-Anarcist (The Second Death.)  On this mix the effects are multifold, blasting the listener with round after round of frightening, growl-like sounds and dynamic programming.  While False Prophets is a good track, it doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the album.  Musically, it has many of the same elements, but it doesn’t seem to be nearly as dark as the previous pieces.  The final track, Abandon All Hope, lives up to its name.  Remarkable beat programming, layer upon layer of sequences, and abysmally creepy vocals all join together on this track to create a bleak atmosphere where everything is lost.  Two tracks off of the Centuries single, Lightyear and Other World Technology, are part of Burnt Beyond Recognition, rounding out what I believe is one of the top 5 releases so far this year
 
OFF BEAT RECORDS     [licensed from Metropolis]        Mentallo & the Fixer is:
Horster Strasse 27                                                                     Dwayne & Gary Dassing
45897 Gelsenkirchen-Buer
Germany
e-mail: offbeat@t-online.de
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