Homo Homini Lupus
Mallevs Maleficarvm
•
July 5, 2017
MALLEVS MALEFICARVM presents their first Album entitled "Homo Homini Lupus" five years after his birth. Marius Berendsen was responsible for the creation of this project and he count with the support of well-known names of the underground scene of the genre cited on guest session. Robert "Robse" Martin Dahn (Vocals), Marius Berendsen (Drums), Dennis Baron (Guitar), Nico Neth (Guitar) and Alexander Rueting (Bass) form the German quintet and the basis of the project for live performances. The album features well-refined musicality within the classic Melodic Black Metal style.
The massive presence of guests in the vocal part (four in total) brings a pleasant surprise to each track making the audition of this work even more interesting. The release was launched by Noise Art Records. Regarding production and mixing, the cover is very deep and flashy showing the head of a wolf being surrounded by four hands and the faults. In the mix flaws are basically concentrated in the first song. I do not know if it was their intention more is well below the rest of the album. The album begins with the song that gives its name to the work, "Homo Homini Lupus" is a very melodic track that shows the listeners a distorted guitars, Blast Beats and growls vocals besides a surprise in its mid with barking hellhounds followed by a somber narrative . "Der Widerchrist" is a song that brings exciting moments and diverse tempo changes, also introduces the bestial vocal of Robse.
While "Under The Red Skies" and "He Shall Bring No Light" continues to show the aggressive rhythm. "Blaze At Dawn" does justice to its name and brings a well thought-out experience with stretched riffs and a much more introspective vocal. Perfect to Listener to close their eyes and travel in their mind. Another track that also follows exactly the same line of their title is "War" bringing noises of machine guns, sirens and soldiers marching. The instrumental part, mainly the drums makes us feel in a battlefield fighting for our survival. To finish the album the project brings "Mors Ultima Ratio", the biggest song with approximately nine minutes. The instrumental track begins with a very experimental sound that gains weight until the entrance of horses whinnying and galloping in the background and then back to experimental part with elements of thunder. After it goes on with several musical elements, having in its end a more hymn rhythm very similar to the end of "He shall bring no light".
Yes, we can say that Berendsen was extremely happy in carrying out his project. The careful vocal shift between the tracks, as well as the constant breaks in rhythm and a great and deep thematic, makes "Homo Homini Lupus" definitely a highlight.
8 / 10
Excellent
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Homo Homini Lupus" Track-listing:
01. Homo Homini Lupus
02. Der Widerchrist
03. Under The Red Skies
04. A Blaze at Dawn
05. He shall bring no light
06. Event Horizon
07. Sieben Sonnen
08. War
09. Tragedy and triumph
10. Mors Ultima Ratio
Mallevs Maleficarvm Lineup:
Robert "Robse" Martin Dahn - Vocals
Dennis Baron - Guitar
Nico Neth - Guitar
Alexander Rueting - Bass
Marius Berendsen - Drums
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