Manilla Road
Mystification

Having reached their sixth studio album, the group from Wichita found themselves facing a significant problem: a lack of funds. Despite the superb "The Deluge," the sales weren't enough to secure a good budget for the new work. So, back in the studio, the American epic metallers had to buckle down and create what would be their new album, "Mystification," in less than six months. In addition to these issues, Manilla Road had to settle for a recording that was, to say the least, awful, precisely because of the lack of money... Moving forward on their path, they did not let themselves be discouraged, and in 1987 they gave birth to this "Mystification," a gem of speed-epic-doom metal. An album much more violent and raw than the previous one, which also shows some doom passages, as the band had already done with "The Veils Of Negative Existence" included in "Crystal Logic."

What might seem like a weak point, namely the poor recording, in my opinion, is the platter's extra weapon because it gives a "crazy" and "epic" aura, creating that halo of mystery that in an album of this genre is absolutely necessary.

Now possessing considerable technical competence, the three musicians draw inspiration from various fantasy and horror novel authors to create some texts: from Edgar Allan Poe's tale of the red mask to Lovecraft's Cthulhu, ending with quotes from Gene Wolfe.

Moving on to analyze the songs, the frantic and furious rhythms that will characterize this album immediately stand out. Proof of this is the opener "Up From The Crypt," a speed metal gem, while with the next track "Children Of The Night," the pace slows down. As already emerged with the previous work, Randy Foxe proves to be a great talent, and much of the credit for this album also goes to him. After the epic "Haunted Palace" (great performance by Mark on the microphone) and "Spirits Of The Dead," comes what I consider the best song of the platter and one of the most ferocious and devastating ever created by the band. "Valley Of Unrest" presents itself as fast, raw, and absolutely aggressive, "enriched" by the recording that makes it "primordial." Also worthy of mention is "Masque Of The Red Death," which features an excellent chorus and where Allan Poe's genius comes to life.

Even if they don't reach the levels of the previous "The Deluge," with the final pair "Dragon Star" and "The Asylum," one can easily talk about another masterpiece album. The semi-ballad "Dragon Star," based on the figure of Alexander the Great, shows that the band has reached truly exceptional levels of songwriting, confirmed by the technical expertise of the concluding instrumental "The Asylum."

To give a judgment on "Mystification," several listens are needed due to its "claustrophobic" and unhealthy nature, which doesn't make it easy to assimilate. I can therefore affirm with certainty that we are facing a great album, perhaps the last masterpiece before an inexorable decline that will occur with the following works and will gradually lead to their disbandment. So, if you are lovers of dark and epic sounds or, in any case, love metal, this album cannot be forgotten...

1. "Up From The Crypt" (3:02)
2. "Children Of The Night" (6:54)
3. "Haunted Palace" (4:22)
4. "Spirits Of The Dead" (4:23)
5. "Valley Of Unrest" (3:39)
6. "Mystification" (5:35)
7. "Masque Of The Red Death" (5:20)
8. "Death By The Hammer" (3:46)
9. "Dragon Star" (5:54)
10. "The Asylum" (4:52)