Blood Mantra

If you go into this thing expecting the old Decapitated you're going to be disappointed. They aren't the same band anymore so it's pretty unfair to compare it to their old albums. If you do though, yes Blood Mantra appears to be underwhelming. They've certainly toned down their death metal aspects and replaced them with what sounds like to me, groove metal along with some Meshuggah and Gojira influences, which is not a bad thing. Of you look at Blood Mantra as a stand alone album, it's very good. Veins is great, and Nest is to me 100% death metal. I also really like the bonus track Moth Defect and wish it was included in the original album. Overall I really enjoy this album and while I can see why many would be disappointed with the direction they've taken, I have to commend them for trying something a little different.

This happens to be the second effort from the polish band after being reactivated with both, new members and new musical direction.We all know that you can't please everyone. There will always be people complaining about things we do in life and of how we make those things and Heavy Metal fans are not excluded from this, in fact I wish I could say the opposite but I can't.It is ridiculous how up to this point people can STILL complain about this band not being what they used to be. Of course they are not the same band and up to this point in 2014 we all know why.Some people might even say that Vogg shouldn't use this band's name anymore and all I can think is "Why?". Why should he stop creating music under this moniker? Because he experienced the loss of his former line up by events he had no control whatsoever? That people should just shut their mouths...Decapitated used to be a Technical Death Metal band and some people want them to be a Tech-death band again no matter what. The problem is that Decapitated don't want to return to their roots and they have made it very clear in the past couple of years (hence all the criticism that they face in today's puritanical death metal fan base). I'm sure they have their own reasons but I'm just glad that they are still around and glad that they are still fighting their own way up to the polish extreme metal throne.I'm glad Decapitated is still around because they now have a better identity than back then. I'm no musician nor I know all these details about the technique the players in the Tech-death realm posses. All I can say is that there are plenty of Tech-Death bands and just a few can stand out from within their herd because (truth be told) all those bands sound very, very similar to each other. Luckily Decapitated decided to stop being one of the few stand outs of this niche to better become a stand out act in all Extreme Metal in general and for that I applaud them.After releasing 2011's Carnival is Forever the polish act unleash their literally follow-up record. Blood Mantra is in fact on the same path that Carnival. A path of experimentation, groove, creativity and most importantly; a path that lead them to discover their own uniqueness in a very tired style of Heavy Metal.There is little to say about this new album that wasn't already stated by other reviewers.If you are here reading this that means you'd probably have heard already their previous record and if that's the case then go pick this one up as it is a similar effort. Very enjoyable.If you, on the other hand, are one of those techy-death fans then you won't find much of it here (although the band do show an impressive level of technicality it is still far away from that sub-genre in particular) but please stop complaining about their change of style because this is not an "Unspoken King" or a "Illud divinum insanus" type of effort. This is a well played, well crafted Groove/death metal record.The only negative aspect that I can bring up and that is not present on any other review in Amazon at least is that the record do have two "filler" songs in the form of Blindness and Red Sun.Blindness seems to be out of place on the record, it is not a bad song but it is a weird song that should have been used as bonus track instead of the bonus track being Moth Defect (which is way better btw) and Red Sun is obviously the typical instrumental song that brings closure to the record. It is not a bad song per se but it does show a lack of inspiration as if they were just making an instrumental song for the sake of just making an instrumental song.All in all this is a worthy successor to their last record. If you dig Carnival you will find Blood Mantra to be very enjoyable.Note: This version comes with a DVD that documents many touring moments and studio footage from 2010 to 2014 that happened in the Decapitated camp. It is not fully informative about the creation of this album. If you are hoping to see interviews and stuff related to this new record then don't have too many expectations about it as it doesn't have many of those things.

Not a bad album from the guys of Decapitated. Decapitated have taken on a much more groove metal sound with this album, compared to earlier releases and lose a lot of their tech death sound. Not to say that they lose death metal entirely, but this definitely has an early 90s groove metal sound. The sound matures a lot more on their next album Anticult, but this is still a really good album.

I do believe that this band has finally found gold. I love this album. They seem to have become a seasoned group of players that just know what the other player is thinking, in other words, they have melded their talent into Art at the highest level. I would recommend this album to everyone. Don't get me wrong, I freaking love every album they have ever put out! But this one is my favorite!

Absolutely crushing. Decapitated is a powerhouse. I'm in the camp of folks who enjoy the past two Decapitated albums as much as the earlier ones, if not more. The tones, the mix, the production - it's all so thick and solid. They are such great songwriters and know how to deliver devastating metal. So thankful these guys are still around making music.

Probably my favorite release from Decapitated. Very technical. The vocals and lyrics flow perfectly with the heavy and kinda sexy guitar riffs. Drumming is flippin awesome!

Great album

Great Band

I waited for about 2 weeks after I got the album before I wrote a review, just to make sure I had fully taken it in.What can I say, this is has to the tightest and most fluid album the band have ever done. Initially I wasn't fan of the first two tracks, they seemed a little too much like a need to reconnect with their classic DM roots, problem is Decapitated don't have any classic roots, they've always defied the standard DM conventions and cut their own path! After a few listens to this there isn't one track I can find fault with, every one a killer. They've moved away from the really progressive feel of "Carnival" to a more down the line harder edge, simply coming at you will all guns blazing.Every track has something going for it, from the intense pounding killer rhythms of "Veins" and "Nest", to the more introspective, tribal rhythms feel of the hypnotic track "Blindness". Decapitated are one of the best in their field simply because of their attention to detail, there isn't a single note that feels out of place. What can you say about Vogg's compositions and guitar work, the guy's a classically trained musician and all that training and hard work is put to devastating use once again in possibly their best album to date. Just listen the complex patterns he's put together for the track "Nest" for examples of the guy's talent! If "Carnival" didn't set them apart as one of the best DM bands around this will. If you're looking from something heavier than Lamb of God but without all that twiddly pomp of bands like Chidren of Bodom, the get this it will blow you away. If you're not up out of your seat and air guitaring like a nutjob, then you have now true metal soul and should ask for your money back!If anything lets the package down though it's the rather lacklustre DVD, can't say that was worth paying extra for and does seem like an afterthought. It's much like a YouTube tour diary and not really that interesting to warrant making people pay extra for. I was happy to pay the full amount for the album but the DVD was a bit of a waste of the plastic it was pressed on to be honest, they could have simply put that up in YouTube.

Quite simply Decapitated's best record yet. Simply stunning! I first heard this lot when they supported Opeth 13 or 14 years ago, and they blew me away; been a fan ever since.Vogg, is one of Metal's finest guitar players; he has a natural talent for it. The riffs this guy has come up with over the years is phenomenal. He also has a gift for melody, composition and timing. Ha, I wish I could play like him, I know that much!The rest of the band do an exemplary job, too, it has to be said: great vocals, bass and drums. Bang on!Blood Mantra is, as far as I'm concerned, all thriller, no filler, but I do have three tracks that are just sensational: Veins, Nest and Red Sun.If you only buy one Death/Extreme Metal album this year, do yourself a favour and get this one. You WON'T be disappointed. Five stars, period!! \m/

A really sick album. Filled with some good, groovy riffs, nice guitar and bass interplay and fundamental but on point drums and vocals, topped off with sparing but effective ambient passages. it is also much better than "carnival..." as this has actual riffs. But... and its a big one.... its not old decapitated. i know this sounds a bit stupid, but their first 2 albums were pure death metal perfection, arguably the best of the genre, period. They had seemed to have struck gold in their combination of players that were born to make music together and youthful exuberance and devotion to their genre.Clearly they were never going to sound the same after the sad death of the wonderfully talented Vitek, but as such a big fan of their first 2 records it is still upsetting to hear that sparkle missing from this and its predecessor. It is not to do with the direction they were going in musically: they had begun their foray into modern metal on "organic..." which was weaker albeit experimental for the band, but it still contained that fire that was so hard to put your finger on yet so prevalent in their early works. the points I have made are backed up on the accompanying DVD with this package, in which band leader and sole original member Vogg alludes to, on several occasions whilst the drums are being tracked, that the current drummer (although very good) was unable to perform the parts quite like Vitek. This shows how his absence is still felt years after their tragic tour bus crashDecapitated were my favourite DM band, and I have come to terms with the fact that they are never going to release another "winds of creation." to metal fans blind to the bands past, "blood mantra" will be more than adequate. in fact it was one of the best metal releases of '14. However, as a long term fan, while I really enjoy this album and do so on its own merits, it still leaves a slight bitter taste in my mouth

Nuclear Blast have continually released top quality cd's, dvd's, vinyl's and box sets since their inception and this vinyl LP is no exception. The cover is really good quality card and the inner sleeve is really good quality paper. The artwork and lyric sheet are clear and beautiful to look at. The record is 180 gram and the play back quality is flawless. The music on this album is amazing and is a testament to Vogg's determination and staying power after the tragedies that have befallen Decapitated over the last few years. R.I.P. Vitek, you are truly missed and Covan please get well soon. If you love Decapitated then you need to buy their albums on both cd and vinyl formats as only then can you truly enjoy each of their Death Metal Master pieces. This album is worth every penny! You can buy it with absolute confidence!

Didn't really know how they'd ever get back to there best following the death of there drummer a few years back but it's taken 2 albums to do this finally blood mantra sees the polish death metal stalwarts have done an album that is up there with there best efforts to date,I'm seeing them in December with behemoth in Dublin and hopefully they get the reception they deserve