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Mentalist: Freedom Of Speech

Melodic Heavy/Power Metal

4.5/5.0

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Pride & Joy Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 19.08.2020 | Released: 28.08.2020

Arriving from Germany, Mentalist is a new metal band created by two guitarists, Peter Moog and Kai Stringer. The band also features drummer and founding member of Blind Guardian Thomen Stauch, veteran Swedish vocalist Rob Lundgren, and bass player Florian Hertel. Kamelot's Oliver Palotai guests on keyboards. Mentalist delivers their debut album, Freedom Of Speech and, tearing a page from the Iron Maiden and Edguy playbook, introduce their "Mentalist" mascot.

Mentalist

Being formed by two guitarist, you know what to expect from Mentalist: twin guitar driven melodic power metal bristling with stunning guitar solos. The guitarists are carried along by gallop and groove from the beefy rhythm section. Lundgren is a solid vocalist, singing melodic and clean with strength and adding to the song harmony. Put together, this is a winning power metal formula.

As for the songs, I gave everything away in the first sentence of the previous paragraph. With some exceptions, most every song is simply fast and heavy power metal. Twin riffage and guitar lines combined with a roaring rhythm section lead most songs, speed and groove kick in, and then all things lead to guitar solos, numerous guitar solos. By example, you'll hear this with Life, Freedom Of Speech, Run Benjamin, or Price Of Time. With Belief you find keyboardist Palotai giving the song a symphonic layer before strong guitar lines rise and things get relatively fast and heavy. The song also features a duet between Lundgren and ex-Lost Horizon vocalist Daniel Heiman. For Whispering Winds, Mentalist dials things back for a metal anthem led by softer electric guitar, bass, and drums combining with vocals. Yet the song has moments were it rises heavier for the guitar solos. An instrumental and orchestral version of the song is included as a bonus track.

All things considered, as a debut album, Mentalist's Freedom Of Speech proves to be a solid and entertaining album of melodic power metal, and Mentalist to be a new power metal force to be reckoned with. Recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

All things considered, as a debut album, Mentalist's Freedom Of Speech proves to be a solid and entertaining album of melodic power metal, and Mentalist to be a new power metal force to be reckoned with. Recommended.

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The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]