WSOU Picks of the Week: Mantar, Death Angel, and Stray from the Path
Seton Hall University’s WSOU radio is the only all-metal, all-the-time station currently broadcasting in the US, and as been a force in metal for DECADES. It’s also streamable online from anywhere in the world! Each week, the staff of WSOU shares their picks for the heaviest of the heavy, as well as the station’s charts for that week, right here on MetalSucks. Enjoy:
Mantar – “Era Borealis”
It was one year ago when I first heard music from the doom metal two-piece, Mantar, via their debut album, Death by Burning. From that moment on, I eagerly awaited their next offering. So I was overjoyed in November when I heard that they were being signed to Nuclear Blast Records to record their sophomore effort, Ode to the Flame. As the release date draws near, the band has released three tracks. The first of these tracks to be released is a song called “Era Borealis,” a slow, sludgy jam that just chugs along, mixed with moments where the listener can just wallow in the sludge of the track. Perhaps the most surprising thing about this track is the ease with which one can sing along to the chorus, not something one would associate with sludge or doom metal. If this track is any indication what can be expected off their new album, then Mantar is going to have a worthy successor to their debut album.
Death Angel – “The Moth”
As bands age, it seems quite hard for them to balance the ability to maintain the sound that made them stand out while also evolving their sound at the same time. Death Angel seems to have figured out how to balance both of these ideas. While “The Moth” sounds little like “Bored” or “Voracious Souls” from their first two albums, “The Moth” does retain what is the essence of a Death Angel track for me — specifically, the ability to pair a frenetic, thrash song with catchy, sing along vocals. Perhaps this is something not unique only to Death Angel, but do have their own way of doing this which has been constant throughout their career.
Stray From the Path – “Talking Tragedy”
Stray From the Path wrote this song about The Ghost Inside’s bus accident as a reminder that they, along with many others in the scene, have TGI’s backs. Lyrically, this is a heart-wrenching song that truly depicts the intensity of the accident. However, it shows how tragedy can bring everyone together. It is truly beautiful to see so many bands doing all they can to help The Ghost Inside as they continue to recover. This song was posted along with a heartfelt message from the band giving their unyielding support for some of their best friends.
