Two anonymous brothers are the masterminds behind one of the most perplexing metal bands today, Mamaleek. Manipulating black metal to an avant garde state and adding in a soup of various cut throat is the name of the game for them. Up until now their sound has been quite jarring often using noisier qualities as the glue behind their compositions. Sometimes it lead to solid ideas that challenged the listener’s stamina and other times it came off as unflatteringly discordant. They’re yet to have a bad record within their catalog, but they haven’t quite reached a level of cohesion to elevating them to greatness. It often came down to the production that ranged from muddy to overbearing. This worked in their favor when focused towards cacophonous arrangements, but when they added in other styles aside their avant-garde black metal roots it felt like a battle between elements rather than a complimentary melding of them.

On Mamaleek’s newest record Come & See, it’s clear that they cleaned up their production (although there are still a handful moments where the percussion becomes staticy). Along with it, their main focus on this record is adding in blues rock and jazz rock. The clearer production gives these elements an opportunity to breathe and have their own time in the spotlight. Of course the aggression in their music still remains, but rather than revolving around unwavering walls of sound it is more subtle through heavy distortion on every piece of instrumentation and animalistic vocals like on their prior record Out of Time. The cleaner production that retains their signature grit makes this their most “accessible” record yet although still abrasive and haunting. Like their other records, Come & See tackles unjusts in society. Specifically post-war housing and how they affected the communities they were placed in. Although the vocals make it hard at times to understand what is being said, the aggression behind them pushes the message when not fully audible

Kicking off the record is “Eating Unblessed Meat” and some decrepit guitar tones similar to that of Revenant Marquis that sway within these noisy blasts of percussion and guitars. This track along with off of Come & See is a rollercoaster of different levels of intensity. One moment a bumpy bassline will come in, and the next soaring guitar solos will ride a short burst of blast beats. Throughout the track really sour horns will pass through almost as a call to arms. The middle of “Eating Unblessed Meat” breaks into an absolutely maddening breakdown before dispersing and settling near the restrained end of the track. The bluesy call and respond bass playing creates a smooth groove complimented by the intricate yet eroding guitar solos.

Following is another longer track, “Cabrini-Green”, which references the poorly ran Chicago living facility that caused an increase in violence and crime in the city that remains to this day. Beginning the the track are a collection of beatdown guitar riffs that subside for the vocals to shine spewing visceral hatred towards the United States and its mistreatment of veterans upon return in a poetic fashion. Accompanying are some oddly beautiful and mysterious rising guitar notes that fit the tone surprisingly well. The percussion on this track is impeccable shifting between relentless blast beats, shattering cymbals, and jazzier breakdowns in which acute guitar tones bounce around during. The eclectic sound of Mamaleek sounds better than ever having connections between two vastly different segments like the synced up instrumentation that slowly pounds and progressively speeds up with throat-shredding screams becoming more violent before crashing into the thunderous climax in the middle of the track. Once the cacophony dies down they begin adding into woosy guitars, shimmery tambourines, and chaotic basslines that layer on top of each other for an amazing closure to “Cabrini-Green”.

The next two tracks off of Come & See dial back the sound a bit providing more room for jazz and blues qualities to be put on display. First is “Elsewhere” which moves a trotting pace thanks to the prominent and steady bassline and detailed percussion. Filling in the composition are sticky guitar solos, melting horns, and pleasing acoustic chords that all compliment each other exceptionally. Then there’s “Whites of the Eyes (Cowards)” which is one Mamaleek’s most minimalistic tracks to date. A slow pulsing bass drum begins with ominous woodwinds transcending that then spaz out in a free-jazz manner with rugged guitars punching the silence and deranged screams howling for “COWARDS, BEND AT THE KNEE”. The tracks slow pace gives a sense of fear only accentuated by the curt brutality thrown in. Ramping up that fear at the end are marching drums that speed up as if sprinting before breaking into a danceable jazz groove while screams still cry out in pain giving a pseudo-breather.

The backend of Come & See slightly pulls back the in-your-face aggression and concentrates on the non-metal aspects of the record more. With it though are some more mediocre moments within otherwise promising tracks. Take “Street Nurse” which has more creaking guitars along with some standard chords and an epic guitar solo that stretches out into the noisy climax and peaks through one last time once the dust settles. Unfortunately those are the only things going for it. The bass grooves and percussion are indeed smooth together, but come off as underwhelming especially when you consider what Mamaleek was capable of at the frontend of the record. The vocals also become very low, moaning growls that feel awkward atop the tracks meandering pace specifically at the beginning. “We Hang Because We Must” on the other hand feels undercooked at the end with its guitars becoming fuzzy because of its strange distortion and the minute of bells and finger snapping that closes out the record. I feel there could have been a more satisfying ending that fit the aggression or at least the intricacy of Come & See, but the track’s frontend does kind of make up for it with its even fusion of genres.

Honestly Mamaleek stepped up their craftsmanship with Come & See. They definitely found a more clear purpose for their record along with developing a cohesive and identifiable sound. Even when some of the instrumentation is on the blander side, the complicated arrangements surrounding it and the sheer visceral anger hanging over everything more than make up for it. Plus the production gives everything a crisper foundation to work with. This puzzling blend of avant-garde metal and various extreme metal subgenres, jazz rock, and blues rock is a unique experience that is as evocative as it is bizarre.

Best Tracks: “Eating Unblessed Meat”; “Cabrini-Green”; “Elsewhere”; “Whites of the Eyes (Cowards)”

Worst Track: “Street Nurse”

Rating: 8/10

Released: 03/27/2020

Label: The Flenser

Genres: Avant-Garde Metal, Jazz Rock, Blues Rock, Black Metal

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RATING SCALE

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