Mental Cruelty - Zwielicht (2023)^{Release ID: 45437}

I gave the new Mental Cruelty album some listening and a review shortly after it first came out. I enjoyed the Lorna Shore-esque brand of epic deathcore, but I thought the symphonic black metal side was a little too much. Fast forward a couple years and my tolerance has grown immensely. I now find Zwielicht an awesome offering that's like Lorna Shore but more depressive, melodic, and blackened. The lyrics have a lot depth and death in them, and that's something modern extreme metal fans shall love!

Stepping in on vocals is Lukas Nicolai, replacing Lucca Schmerler after Lucca's firing due to sexual abuse allegations. As brutally good as Lucca is (despite the allegations), Lukas is a total powerhouse when it comes to growls and screams. He has even added an uncommon aspect in deathcore, clean singing.

"Midtvinter" is a dark ominous intro to get you ready for an epic journey. "Obsessis a Daemonio" is a total blaster which you might think it's Dimmu Borgir on steroids. At over the 3 and a half minute mark, Lukas attempts some clean power metal-like singing like some of the male guest vocalists of Avantasia. The earlier neoclassical soloing has its comeback in "Forgotten Kings" in clear prominence.

One of the most Lorna Shore-like songs here is "Pest" which is a brilliant highlight. Lukas is quite talented, though he can't surpass Will Ramos. No one can beat the epic deathcore vocal king! Then we have the slow-ish "Nordlys" which is kind of a brutal deathcore take on the more dramatic Scandinavian melodeath bands out there. "Mortal Shells" combines many elements of the band's previous albums to make one of the most diverse highlights in the album. Sinister guitar and vocals drifting through along with the crushing drumming for a powerful experience.

The title interlude is a German-sung Nordic folk piece than can easily fit well in an Elder Scrolls game. "Symphony of a Dying Star" has riffing and soloing sounding much closer to the epic melodeath of Insomnium and Wintersun. Greatly exemplifying the black/death metal drumming and guitarwork is "The Arrogance of Agony". The epic finale "A Tale of Salt and Light" has the symphonic death metal/core of Ex Deo and early Betraying the Martyrs to make one of the most glorious deathcore tracks ever!

How would I consider Zwielicht? F***ing awesome, that's what! This is symphonic melodic blackened deathcore with sharp riffing and mystical atmosphere freezing away the earlier brutal hellfire. Not to mention those fast blasting drums and Lukas' wide-ranged vocals. Their best work besides Purgatorium, maybe slightly more!

Favorites: "Obsessis a Daemonio", "Pest", "Mortal Shells", "Symphony of a Dying Star", "A Tale of Salt and Light"