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Manimal: Purgatorio

Heavy/Power Metal

4.0/5.0

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AFM Records
Released: 07.09.2018
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 05.09.2018

Cutting their time in half, Sweden's Manimal returns with their third album, Purgatorio, in a mere three years rather than six. Yet on the strength of 2015's Trapped In The Shadows, the band found themselves in demand for live appearances. The samee recognition has brought them enough prestige to be invited to play PowerProg USA this year. On the day of the release of Purgatorio, September 7, Manimal will take the main stage in Atlanta for a midnight show.

Manimal

As for Purgatorio, expect more Manimal melodic power metal. While I expected to find the usual speedy heavy metal tunes, Manimal has bumped up the melody, vocal harmony, and latent hard rock groove. Perhaps the best description then is to call Purgatorio power metal rock. Additionally, vocalist Samuel Nyman is in form, singing strong and clean, easily following song melody while testing his Halford-like metal screamo voice. Equally impressive throughout is the guitar work, where Henrik Stenroos not only delivers tough riffs, but also thrilling solos. Here and there you'll find a touch of keyboards with the title cut having a nice flair in the later third.

After these things, simply prepare for some classic European power metal. Songs like Black Plague, Purgatorio, and Manimalized deliver speed, intensity, and groove. Alternatively, Spreading The Dread or Edge Of Darkness offer mixed pacing, twisting between steady and speed. Denial is another heavy and steady number, yet delivers a slight light breakdown featuring bass and drums. Similar, The Fear Within begins with a subtle start, first with light electric guitar before building with drums, tougher riffs, and some mild synth embellishment. The pace remains steady, but with the tough bottom end, the song has a foreboding presence.

All in all, for traditional European power metal, Manimal's Purgatorio delivers the goods, as expected and perhaps with a bit more melody and groove to make them more accessible. Recommended.

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