THE MANDRAKE -

THE MANDRAKE - THE BURNING HORIZON AT THE END OF DAWN - CRASH
Well, well, well, what is this? Another respectable death metal band from Colorado - if memory serves me correctly the base for Throcult - splinters my perception of that state as one that is dominated exclusively by a bunch of hypocritical Jesus freaks. What's more, The Mandrake has delivered a convincing album that boasts impressive riffs, interesting riffs and a sharp guitar sound. The bass is apparently MIA, but the drumming and singing do make an impact. This is not a copy, but in the same category as bands like Dissection, Throcult and Dark Tranquility and worth investigating. Almost all tracks here are noteworthy, including the supposed bonus track Night Of Day. Although one has to wonder what makes it a bonus track. Fans of metal guitar and the aforementioned bands will want to check out this album from a surprising origin. - Ali "The Metallian"