MARTRIDEN „The Unsettling Dark ”

Music: Melodic Death Metal
Country: USA
Web site: www.martriden.com
Cool Songs: Ascension 2, The Calling, Immaculate Perception

Montana: windswept prairies, majestic mountains, Yellowstone National Park and…melodic death metal? Extreme metal (or metal of any type) is quite elusive in the desolate confines of this Northern Plains state. Somehow, it managed to produce a promising young band called MARTRIDEN. Their name, which is taken from the myth of the nightmare-induced wrath known in English as “mare ride,” tends to produce a preconceived notion of a Scandinavian band.

Without doing research, one could easily stumble into that notion upon hearing their latest album “The Unsettling Dark.” The band’s first full-length, available through Candlelight Records, contains elements normally associated with European death and black metal bands such as GOD DETHRONED’s, HYPOCRISY, IN FLAMES, AT THE GATES, DARK TRANQUILITY and late-era CARCASS.

The album's intro kick starts the album with a chugging guitar riff paired with a climbing bar chord album. These opening notes offer a sense of the album’s prevailing style. “The Calling” follows a similar format, although the constant hammer of the bass drum adds a bit of oomph. This track also introduces Michael Cook’s gnarly vocals, which immediately bring to mind the middle-ranged, half-growl, half-scream of GOD DETHRONED’s Henri. “The Ascension” highlights more impressive drum work, most notably the kick drums.

The group also dons a technical stance. Here, both guitarists move in unison to the drummer’s swift fills. A brief metal core-like breakdown adds simple aggression to this passage of complex patterns. The group soon settles into one of the more memorable rhythms of the album, one that necessitated comparisons to Michael Ammot’s time in CARCASS and his early days in ARCH ENEMY.

The first half of the album features many great riffs and awesome compositions, but the second part contains even better material. Starting with the instrumental, “Ascension 2,” the group makes greater use of melody. Serene keys beckon clean guitar tones coupled with harmonious leads, which soon blossoms into black metal style riffing and double bass, yet stays consistent with the song’s title, moving towards a joyful crescendo. “Immaculate Perception” is another melody-rich track. The acoustic guitar and buoyant background keys relate an angelic feeling on this instrumental outro. “Processional for the Hellfire Chariot” and “A Season in Hell” shows the band finish in a similar fashion with enchanting instrumentation.
MARTRIDEN’s

The Unsettling Dark may produce uninterested, first perceptions. They may come off as just another Gothenburg rip off band. Subsequent listens reveal an album with more substance. The various influences appear, as does a better appreciation for their strong compositions, hooks, melodies and atmosphere. Considering the thriving interest in bands playing the melodic death metal style, MARTRIDEN may become one of the more acclaimed and sought-after groups of this style, and undeniably the biggest metal band in Montana.

www.martriden.com

note: 8/10

Tracklist

1. Intro
2. The Enigma of Fate
3. The Calling
4. Ascension Pt. 1
5. Ascension Pt. 2
6. Processional for the Hellfire Chariot
7. The Unsettling Dark
8. Prelude
9. A Season in Hell
10. Immaculate Perception
Total playing time 43:21

Line-up

Shane Howard – Guitar
Will Thackeray – Guitar
Kyle Howard – Keyboard/Guitar
Chad 'The Chad' Baumgardner – Bass
Michael Cook – Vocals