UMUR
"Mind Manipulation" is the debut full-length studio album by Ukraine thrash metal act Mortal Vision. The album was released through Redefining Darkness Records in October 2021. Mortal Vision formed in 2019 and released the "Madness of Messiah" single in October 2019.
The two non-album tracks featured on the "Madness of Messiah" (2019) single show a band heavily influenced by late 80s/early 90s death/thrash Sepultura (and to a lesser degree 1987-89-era Sodom), and the material on "Mind Manipulation" continue that formula too. The riff style, the solo style, the drumming, and the lead vocals, which sound a lot like Max Cavalera, are all features of the band´s music that lead your thoughts toward the Brazilian band and the late 80s/early 90s era of their discography. So it´s difficult to talk about Mortal Vision without mentioning Sepultura, and "Mind Manipulation" is not an album you put on to listen to something new and innovative.
But while this is hardly unique music, Mortal Vision thankfully slay in the execution of their material. These guys are hard-edged, aggressive, and very well playing/singing, and the tracks are also well composed and effective death/thrash tunes, that you can both bang our head to and mosh around breaking furniture in your house to. Death/thrashy sonic violence performed with passion and conviction.
Featuring 8 tracks and a total playing time of 33:25, it´s a short, to-the-point type of release, and it´s not the most varied release out there. In fact it´s slightly one-dimensional and the songs don´t quite stick the first time you listen to the album. They sound a bit too much the same, but as mentioned above this is still high quality death/thrash metal performed by a well playing unit, and as the music is packed in a powerful, raw, and well sounding production too, this is a good quality debut release by Mortal Vision. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.