The first word on the accompanying blurb with this album ‘Minuswho?’ echoed my thoughts perfectly. I had never heard of the group but established they were from the label’s home country of France and as Season Of Mist know what they are doing generally (arguments about releasing THAT certain album a couple of months ago aside), I was more than happy to give them a listen. I was instantly down with the sound of the group and was pleased to note that although I felt I recognised certain influences to their sound they were no easy to categorise band. You cannot simply lump Minushuman into a death, black, thrash or whatever pigeonhole they combine many different elements stylistically although extreme yet accessible metal does give you a very rough crash course in what to expect.
It would appear that Bloodthrone is their second album, following on from 2008 release ‘Watch The World Die,’ which was self released and probably did not get them much attention outside their home country, hopefully this new one will, as its damn good!
‘The Architect’ builds (sorry) upon a solid drum foundation and guitars and bass hone in with plenty of groove. Groove with a capital G is one word that should be mentioned here as the album does just that with style and finesse. The other thing you are quickly drawn to is the hoary, gruff and angered vocals of Cedric Moise, the overall impression here reminded me a lot of Brits October File, which in itself drew me towards a slight Killing Joke feel. Add this along with the sound of Mastodon and their own countrymen Gojira and you are somewhere in the right ballpark. This first impressive number does not dwell alone and contained on the album are another nine similarly hewed granite slabs of good chunky metal goodness. You can bounce and chug away to the progressive flair of ‘The Size Of An Ocean’ with an encompassing depth about it and lightened clean vocal roars. The melody is deep and rich and it is easy to be drawn into its glistening folds.
If I were forced to choose a favourite number I would plump for the albums longest number ‘Forgotten Fields’ which opens with a shimmering guitar chord rife with maudlin melody before going heavy arsed as everything else piles in behind it. This is a song with a message and it is one that we could also cite Gojira as sharing with a pile-driving anthemic chorus of “the more I see the world, the more I feel.” It’s a cry out to the damage mankind has inflicted upon the planet and in song form it’s damn persuasive. There is a fair bit of rage as well to be found, take ‘Godspeed’ for example, chanting away with a sledgehammer approach that is as heavy as breaking boulders with bare hands. The title track itself is a stormy and tempestuously indignant number, one which is as per the rest of the album solid and lead-lined. I keep coming back to building and construction metaphors here but they fit well with the mood and strength of the music and by last instrumental song ‘Kill Me’ whatever the group have erected will stand strong and proud.
If you are looking for an album to get your groove onto you should certainly give Minushuman a shot. This has impressed me a lot and who knows one day they could well be as big as the likes of Gojira and Mastodon, if so remember where you heard it first.
http://www.myspace.com/minushumanity
Pete Woods
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