During the rise of the Second Wave of Black Metal in the early days of the 90s, acts as ROTTING CHRIST, DISSECTION, EMPEROR, SATYRICON and others dared to create eerie melodies to improve the darkened feeling of their music, what is the main root of what is labelled as Melodic Black Metal. Acts as DIMMU BORGIR and CRADLE OF FILTH helped a lot for the growth and maturing of the genre. And still today, older ways of the genre are attractive for new bands. And even after the peak of Melodic Black Metal’s popularity, MISANTHROPIA, from Netherlands, is here, back with its 5th full-length, “Envy the Dead”.

The band once more delivers its musical efforts on the hands of Mike Wead (the guitarist of KING DIAMOND and MERCYFUL FATE) to work as producer, and on the sound engineering and mixing of their songs. The result is a classic Melodic Black Metal sonority that allows everything to be heard and understood, but keeping the natural elements of the genre (as some ‘lo-fi’ instrumental tunes), and it’s great as it is! As an act with almost 20 years of existence and 4 full-lengths on its baggage, it’s clear that they known exactly of their music: an old way of Melodic Black Metal that isn’t relying on the past, because it some different elements are heard on the mix (the NWOBHM and German Heavy Metal melodies are clear, even under such heavy Black Metal dressing), with a fine work on the instrumental parts (full of dynamical layers, even with some pianos and keyboards, even the melodies being expressed by the guitars). It’s truly what the fans of the genre were asking for.

The intro “Envy the Dead” precedes a Melodic Death Metal storm of excellent songs as “Malediction and Laughter” (a brutal and technical song with excellent guitar riffs and arrangements, the vocals have some traits similar to Attila Csihar, and fine keyboards adorns), “Organs, for a Fair Price” (this one focuses on slow tempos and oppressive and technical parts, with excellent Thrash/Black Metal elements, and what massive bass guitar and drums parts), “Prosperity by Cocaïne” (wow, great guitar solos can be heard on this one), “Maze of Madness” (there are classic Black Metal fast tempos on this one), “River Dumplings”, “Coughing in the Coffin House” (some Death/Black Metal elements can be heard on this one), “Fade into the Abyss”, and “A Deadly Embrace, a Sinister Grace”.

Listen to “Envy the Dead” and enjoy this excellent offering of MISANTHROPIA!