Impaled Nazarene "Manifest" CD

Descripción Impaled Nazarene has returned yet again to deliver another greasy middle finger to naysayers and posers with their newest release, Manifest. After suffering many recent disappointments in the metal realm, including the extremely weak We Are the Nightmare by the young Arsis, I had held out failing hope for the veterans of Impaled Nazarene to deliver to yet another quality album. How could a band with such a long and storied career still come up with new and extreme material? However, Manifest surprised me and knocked me flat on my ass with a tight and energetic performance and excellent songwriting.
Instrumentally, Manifest is strong, perhaps stronger than the last few albums issued by I.N. The guitars deliver buzz-saw tones and crushing riffs. The strongest point of the album is the memorability of the riffs, which adds to enjoyability greatly. The songs Planet Nazarene and You Don't Rock Hard are the best examples of this, with the latter having a great attitude. The tempo of the songs is generally kept at breakneck speeds, with some medium-speed entries such as Funeral for Despicable Pigs. Another highlight is the drumming, which is solid and very clear. Unlike many bands nowadays, the drums of Manifest hold a firm and headbang-able beat, instead of trying to chop the songs to pieces with unwanted “technicality” every 3 seconds. Bass guitar is generally hard to hear most of the time, but that is pretty common nowadays, especially in this genre.
Vocally, Mika delivers a very energetic performance. His range is showcased on this album, with many lower growls in addition to his normal high-pitched screeches. Lyrically, the album is as good as always, with many (although mostly subtle) Satanic references and anti-sheep screeds. I.N.'s humor is present and accounted for; the lyrics for You Don't Rock Hard will bring a grin to your face as Mika ridicules German censors with gusto. Suicide Song is surprisingly emotional and funny at the same time, with the melodic guitars contrasted by Mika calling for emo pussies to “Be a man for once” and kill themselves. “Goodbye cruel world, smilies and razor blades!” Emos/scenesters/whatevers can begin tying their nooses NOW. Mushroom Truth is another highlight on the lyrical front, and will bring some laughs to users of mind-altering substances.
Overall Impaled Nazarene has demonstrated that they are still capable of delivering extreme metal. This album is a must-have for fans of the band, and should at least be tried by black-metal fans. This album is a gut-punch to wimpy bands and sell-outs, and proves that the team from Finland still has all the elements that make them number one.
Sample:  IMPALED NAZARENE Manifest (Full Album)