UMUR
"Peak" is the debut full-length studio album by Finnish metal act Mind Riot. The album was released through Godhead Recordings in 1995. It´s the follow-up release to the 1993 "Plasma" EP.
Right off the bat opening track "For the Spirit" introduces the odd and experimental songwriting style of Mind Riot. "Plasma" still featured some old school death metal elements, although it was an adventurous and quite unconventional death metal release, but "Peak´s" only connection to death metal is the occasional sections featuring growling vocals. Those sections can be labelled death´n´roll, but Mind Riot also more prominently play an alternative metal style and combine it with the death´n´roll elements. Clean vocals, heavy rock/metal riffs, funky moments, and odd experimental songwriting ideas are some of the elements which make up the sound of "Peak". When Mind Riot are most weird their countrymen in Waltari isn´t the worst reference.
"Peak" features a well sounding production, and you´re able to hear all instruments and vocals in the mix. So upon conclusion it´s an interesting release. I´m not sure I agree with all the odd songwriting choices, but at least Mind Riot got balls. The death metal growling should probably have been left off this release, as the death´n´roll parts disrupt the flow of the album, and they just sound out of place. The clean vocals are predominantly well performed and relatively varied in style, but sometimes they sound a little out of key, and the female vocals which occur a few times even more so.
So upon conclusion "Peak" isn´t a perfect release by any means, and it´s also difficult to point to a group of listeners who could appreciate a release as eclectic as this. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.
