The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara - Full Spectrum - Album Review - Experimental Rock from London, England
Today, we turn our attention to The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara, a captivating cinematic/experimental/poetry performance band hailing from London, England. In this review, we delve into their highly anticipated debut album, Full Spectrum, exploring its character, style, story, potential, and more.
Full Spectrum, released on February 26, 2021, marks the impressive debut of The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara. While their musical journey commenced with the single "Atoms" in 2020, they have since released six more singles, including "Psychopath's Monologue" (2020), "Deus Ex Machina" (2020), "Mata Hari" (2020), "The Descent" (2020), "Love in the Time of Pestilence" (2020), and "At the World's End" (2021), in addition to the Full Spectrum album. I invite you to immerse yourself in the album as we delve further into this article.
Let us begin by acknowledging one of the most controversial albums of the century, Lou Reed's "LULU," a collaborative project with Metallica released in 2011. While it may not have been the first of its kind in history, it left an indelible mark on myself and many metalheads alike. "LULU" possessed solid storytelling boundaries, showcasing the expected Metallica riffage intertwined with Lou Reed's distinctive storytelling prowess.
The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara's Full Spectrum bears a similar approach to "LULU," while also exhibiting notable differences. It presents a broader perspective, encompassing two distinct concepts within the album. Full Spectrum astounds with its emotional depth, even for someone like myself who isn't particularly drawn to this music style. However, regardless of personal musical preferences, when one listens to Full Spectrum with undivided attention, the album effectively communicates its message to the listener.
The band displays a specific and boundary-pushing approach to composition. They fearlessly traverse sophisticated song structures, eschewing conventional and commercial tendencies. Full Spectrum presents a futuristic concept, taking listeners on an extended dynamic journey of highs and lows, much like a novel. The story undergoes dramatic changes in mood, tempo, and style, constantly stimulating the listener while keeping their attention sharp. It is genuinely impressive.
The album's overall mood is dynamic, as previously mentioned. At times, it delves into the darkness of black metal, while at others, it embraces brighter, nature-friendly elements or ventures into realms of evil, stimulation, hallucination, sadness, and hopelessness. It instantly transports the listener into the narrative, discussing current worldly topics such as viruses and vaccines. Full Spectrum is not an album for passive listening; it challenges, unsettles, and demands answers in return.
Throughout my listening experience, the music evoked vivid imagery of a post-apocalyptic world. It prompted me to envision Full Spectrum as a potential soundtrack for a movie or video game. Naturally, individuals may arrive at different conclusions based on various reasons. For me, Full Spectrum brought to mind a video game I played years ago, "Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines," with Massive Attack's haunting soundtrack. It depicted a dark world teeming with terror, perpetually shrouded in darkness, wandering the streets in search of answers, and venturing into futuristic nightclubs where the music induced drug-induced hallucinations. The thematic similarities between Full Spectrum and this game are striking, as both offer a musical representation of a specific world.
While Full Spectrum holds immense strengths, it is essential to address its primary weakness: the technical aspects of the work. I must candidly admit that the album's production falls short of The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara's potential. The recording quality, particularly regarding natural instrumentation, leaves much to be desired. Off-notes and weak, digital-sounding guitars plague the mix, with a lack of natural tonality and general sound balancing issues. Though it was recorded during the pandemic, I am uncertain who oversaw the production and mixing. With all due respect, such sound quality standards, especially in 2021, do not bode well for any artist.
Taking all aspects into account, I can confidently say that Full Spectrum provided a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The album possesses the potential to reshape perspectives and commands immense respect for The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara's artistic endeavors. Full Spectrum merely serves as their debut, hinting at a promising and captivating journey that lies ahead.
To delve deeper into the world of The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara, I encourage you to explore the links provided below. Connect with them on social media, subscribe to their channels, and demonstrate your support, ensuring you do not miss any of their upcoming releases.
In conclusion, the Metalhead Community Team extends its congratulations to The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara for their powerful debut, Full Spectrum, and wishes them continued success in their future endeavors. Thank you for reading.
