MANII — Kollaps (review)

Album · 2013 · Depressive Black Metal

2/5 · 2013-06-23
adg211288

Once there existed a Norwegian band called Manes, who played black metal. Manes however left the genre behind after the release of their debut album Under ein Blodraud Maane (1999) and began producing albums outside of any metal genre starting with the electronic alternative rock album Vilosophe (2003) and lastly the trip-hop album How the World Came to an End (2007). After these three full-lengths, Manes called it a day, their last major release being an EP, Reinvention (2008). This is the point where Manii enters the picture, featuring former Manes members Cernunnus (guitars) and Sargatanas (vocals) and marking a return to the black metal genre. Kollaps is the debut album of the new group and it was released in 2013. Manes themselves actually reformed sometime after the release of Kollaps, with Cernunnus performing in both projects, although it is unknown to me at this time what sort of direction Manes’ music will go in.

Manii’s take on black metal fits best within the so called depressive style due to their rather droning, monotonous playing style which makes use of some atmospheric ambient elements here and there. Generally the sound is quite lo-fi and slow to mid paced, in other words the genre specifics done by the book. There’s a hypnotic quality to be had, but the effect is inconsistent to me, which is the term I’d use to best describe the album in all aspects. This is why Kollaps fails to make much of an impression on me. The skill is there, but the results aren’t. Kollaps cannot be called a bad release but there’s just something about it that isn’t clicking with me. I’ll admit that this particular area of black metal isn’t one I’ve particularly explored, so I’m judging Kollaps on my standards of the genre at large, but on that count, more than anything, Kollaps strikes me as being a bit boring. Take a track like Kaldt, which is just over seven minutes of basically the same melody over raw black metal riffs with only very occasional variation.

Opener Skoddeheim is one of the stronger compositions here but the rest seems to ponder on without any particular goal in mind due to the release’s repetitive nature. On paper that shouldn’t be a problem, but the atmosphere of Kollaps doesn’t exactly draw me in or invoke any sort of emotions, especially not the negative ones that depressive black metal, as I understand it, is supposed to. I don’t totally dislike Kollaps as an album, but I can’t help but feel it’s one of those albums that can easily be skipped over due to its overall total middle of the road nature, which is also the sort of rating it deserves.

53/100

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven: http://metaltube.freeforums.org/manii-kollaps-t3007.html)

more than 2 years ago
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adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Maybe I'll look into it sometime then. Thanks for the recommendation, not sure I'd have given Manes a second thought after listening to this album. I've heard worse black metal releases, but I can barely remember this one already...

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I can highly recommend a listen :-). I´ve actually written a review that I have in backlog. It´ll probably be a while before I post it though.

adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I took the tagging on RYM for its word in regard to the genres of Manes other albums. I haven't hear them. http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/manes/vilosophe/

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Sounds disappointing. I´m a big fan of Manes and especially "Vilosophe" (which IMO is a full blown industrial/progressive metal album. Not much rock about that one).