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Mentalist: Empires Falling

Melodic/Heavy/Power Metal

3.5/5.0

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Pride & Joy Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 15.09.2022 | Released: 16.09.2022

The Swedish/German collaboration that is Mentalist is on the verge of being a metal juggernaut. Started in 2018, Mentalist has released a studio every year beginning in 2020. That's a feat most often found in yesteryear, when bands would follow the trilogy of record, tour, then record their next album. Repeat. Moreover, since their inception the band has had the same personnel, another uncommon feat. Mentalist gallops along with their latest and third long player, Empires Falling. Oliver Palotai (Kamelot) and Mike LePond (Symphony X) return as guests on keyboards and bass. Ubiquitous Jacob Hansen produced the album.

Mentalist

Once more, Mentalist offers traditional melodic and heavy power metal, and a lot of it. Empires Falling tracks with 13 songs for nearly an hours worth of metal. That's getting your money's worth, if only because Mentalist is very good at their metal craft. But more isn't always better. Long albums don't impress me1, especially when much more of the same becomes redundant. (I don't have ADD, but albums an hour long or more, unless their prog, begin to lose my interest after about 43 minutes.)

But constant consistency is not a bad thing. Mentalist still deliver what genre fans love about "keep it true" heavy/power metal: twin guitar harmony and terrific solos, a proper merger of power metal gusto with rock rhythm and groove, a significant driving bass line, and solid melodic vocals and vocal harmony. But with some songs, about half way through, the album became a blur, repetition while fine took over. Which makes it nearly impossible for me to cite highlights or significant song achievements.

Essentially, when it comes to their metal genre, with Empires Calling Mentalist has crested, reached their apex. Without some fresh input, anything after this, no matter how well-crafted, will simply be more of the same. Nevertheless, if you're a diehard fan of the band and genre, you will be quite pleased.

When it comes to their metal genre, with Empires Calling Mentalist has crested, reached their apex. Without some fresh input, anything after this, no matter how well-crafted, will simply be more of the same. Nevertheless, if you're a diehard fan of the band and genre, you will be quite pleased.

Alphabetical Index

This experience deserves mention for one very good reason: Finland's One Desire is one of the best classic AOR melodic hard rock bands in the genre and, perhaps, the world, right now So, I also apologize, in ... [ Read More ]

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