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By JEFF MAKI
The Danish five-piece Mnemic found success with their last release, 2004's The Audio Injected Soul, selling 15,000 copies in the United States. The band's industrial-tinged yet melodic style often was compared to Fear Factory, for whom the band admittedly holds great admiration. The album also was given high marks from metal publications such as Kerrang and Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles.
The new release, Passenger, is the band's first with vocalist Guillaume Bideau, formerly of Scarve. The band based the album around the philosophy of Existentialism, exploring the meaning of existence. Also notable is that Passenger was produced by Fear Factory guitarist Christian Olde Wolbers and mixed by Tue Madsen (The Haunted).
Now the music. Mnemic's style can still be compared to Fear Factory with the jackhammer drumming courtesy of Brylle, fast, down-tuned riffs from guitarists Mircea and Rune, and Obeast's low-end bass, all backed by futuristic synthesizers. The dark, industrial sound is not surprising given the album's producer. The industrial style mixed with the clean, soaring choruses courtesy of Guillaume also brings to mind the band Passenger, the side project of In Flames frontman Anders Friden. Close comparisons also can be made to Soilwork. The melodic parts are a bit too radio friendly for my taste but well executed nonetheless. Guillaume does an admirable job here without sounding completely original in any aspect. The vocals range from a Spineshank roar, Burton C. Bell melodic parts and distorted screams not unlike “Speed” of Soilwork.
Songs like “In the Nothingless Black,” the highly catchy and possible single, “Meaningless” and “Psykorgasm” are accessible industrial metal anthems, while “Pigfuck,” “Stuck Here” and ”Electric I'd Hypocrisy” are heavier, darker, more futuristic metal. This is the strong suit for the band and what sets them apart in a day when there are 280 bands doing almost the same thing.
Mnemic has a place in metal until further notice after Passenger, a superb effort which introduces us to an exciting vision of futuristic metal. It has its flaws but is a strong effort which is sure to be a success. As a bonus, the album also features guest appearances by Jeff Walker (Carcass) and Shane Embury (Napalm Death).
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