Feindt

Austria is not necessarily best known for its Metal scene so it is always nice to see some quality musicians hailing from my loved home country delivering the goods. Misanthropic Might is a band that has been producing hard and merciless music for nearly 2 decades and “Feindt” is their third full length album. More or less the same bunch of guys have also churned out some serious death metal tunes under the moniker “Parental Advisory” also worth checking out.

While there are a few hints of the related death metal genre Misanthropic Might mainly stay within the boundaries of traditional black metal. Hefty and relentless tremolo riffs are building the core of this record. While there is not much new or innovative to be found on “Feindt” guitarists Sic and Maschine cleverly combine chords from the glory 90s and a more modern variation of this particular style. This works great as the band’s sound should please each fan of the classics but also has a certain freshness that other bands who are only trying to copy the old heroes don’t offer. Some of the trademark themes are used more than once with some slight adoptions like going up or down a keynote.

The speed and the intensity are kept very high over the whole playing time with only a few passages where the tempo is slowed down and the listener gets a chance to breathe. However, the melodic harmonies and the fantastic hooks make the record a very enjoyable affair. The song structures are pretty stringent and while technical prowess plays an important role in certain sections the album has a great flow and it is pretty easy to get into the music. A lot is going on in the background and the band always makes sure that the epic and symphonic elements lend a very atmospheric nature to the music.

Drummer Slavetrader keeps firing on all cylinders and his delivery is insane. While there are tons of blast-beat sections the music always keeps a certain groove as well. He knows when to step back a little bit and let the often catchy melodies and the epic moments take center stage. It is obvious that the members have been playing together for a pretty long time as they are acting as a unit and not just like some solo artists practicing at the same time.

Singer Purgatory has a perfectly fitting voice. His snarling and barking tone reminds of well-known names like Abbath but he is able to leave his own mark as well. His delivery helps ramping up the intensity up a notch and highlights the aggressive and brutal vibe of the record.

“Feindt” is presented with a nearly flawless production. The mix is clear without sacrificing a bit of the needed rawness and the overall sound is very powerful. The drums have an immense punch and even the bass is clearly audible. Misanthropic Might have delivered a highly professional product that is easily on par with the works of better known bands. If you like your black metal well-produced and relentless yet catchy then this record should be on your list.