By: Anders

Posted: Jun 22, 2006

Mendeed is a band hailing from Scotland, a part of the metal scene we don't hear much of, though I am pretty sure of that will change with Mendeed. The band delivers fierce metalcore, though are offering quite a lot compared to many other bands within the genre, dynamic as hell and with melodies inspired by classical heavy metal, and yeah, I don't know, there just is something about the band, this is the first time I have been hooked this fast on a band within this genre.

The band is good at varying their expressions, we are all the time getting furious and aggressive metal blasted into our ears. The most common factor in the music through out the 12 tracks on the album, is the splendid melodies the band utilized, damn the melodic guitar work is amazing, Catchy and very hooking melodies, sweeping ones feet of the ground. The press-material names Iron Maiden-like melodies, and for once such a statement is true, some of the leads reach about the same height as some of the good Maiden wanks. There are a lot of good and hooking riffs being present as well, good and thrashy, with a nice hardcore edge to some of them.

Mendeed is good at building up hard hitting atmospheres, and I guess that is one of the reasons for why the album is gripping, as there always are something going on, and often the unpredictable, as there are many breaks, pace shifts or leads that show up in "weird" places, when thinking of more common music. Normally the aggressive and melodic guitar work controls the atmospheres, though once in a while another element enters the stage, like the melancholic violin in the end of 'Remains Of The Day'. The main vocal is a big part of the sound picture as well, a harsh hardcore scream, which is piercing eardrums and whatever else in reach, it possesses a lot of passion and emotion, and can cause goose bumps. It is backed up by a lighter, yet still hardcore influenced scream and at other times a pretty good clean vocal. The drumming is quite impressive as well, the kick drums are often going fast and pounding, the snare drum is used stylish, and there are many good fills and killer breaks.

There have been quite far between the really good bands within the metalcore scene lately, many of the bands have been doing the same thing over and over, without adding something personal. Though I think the salvation has arrived embodied by Mendeed, like a William Wallace forcing the English army back, Mendeed forces their competitors back in their nests. Fierce and aggressive metalcore, with a thrashy sound and a lot of inspiration from classical heavy metal, which really makes the album a feast. The vocals are well executed and add a lot of aggressiveness and fierceness to the final result, Mendeed is for sure the future!

Rating: 9/10

Mendeed website

Distributed in Denmark and kindly supplied by VME

Buy the album at

Buy merchandise at

Print