Decapitated – Blood Mantra

"Blood Mantra is the most heavy and mature album we ever did in our career" - Vogg 

Decapitated is a death metal band from Poland. Blood Mantra presents their sixth studio album. I really like their 2011 release, Carnival is Forever. For me, Decapitated produces non-bullshit metal, displayed by a structured average of 5 minutes long songs on the album. I especially appreciate the vocals on this release. Decapitated are signed on Nuclear Blast Records (with bands such as Meshuggah, All Shall Perish, Carcass, Exodus and Thy Art is Murder).

My experience of Blood Mantra is that it’s less tiring than other death metal records. The album is overall groovier with extreme metal elements and atmospheric parts. Live, these songs will be a treat. The album is 45 minutes spanned over 9 tracks. Krimh played drums on the previous record, but has been replaced along with the bassist. For me, Vogg remains the dominant force behind Decapitated.

Exiled in Flesh is the first song of the album, a 4 minute long song that closes with an ambient outro. The Blasphemous Psalm to the Dummy God Creation is the powerful single and being 2:30 long it is a no-nonsense metal song. Veins starts with a heavy intro, Rasta enables a powerful song with his diction on the vocals. 5 minutes end with “fuck the system” reiterated as a cap to one crazy, cool song.

Blood Mantra is the title track of the album, a fast and angry song with impressive drum patterns at the end. Nest’ intro contains erratic riffs. The precise arrangements of beats creates a lively song; ‘a fist-punching circle-pit song’. The ambient rhythms on Instinct blend well with the shredding leads. There are extreme metal-esque riffs on the song and an accomplished verse. There is also an impressive solo in the first half of the song.

Blindness is a somewhat melancholic song, but with powerful and dynamic vocals. Red Sun is a 3 minute long ambient, instrumental song. The vocals on Moth Defect only start 2:30 into the song, forming part of an extensive 6:21 composition. For me, Decapitated as band are the heralds to the Polish death metal scene.