VNTRVE

"Vntrve" is an EP release by Norwegian experimental rock/metal act Manes. The EP was released through Debemur Morti Productions in August 2014. 250 copies were pressed on 7" vinyl but the EP is also available as a "name your price" option on the band´s Bandcamp profile. Manes haven´t released a studio album since "How the World Came to an End (2007)", but "Vntrve" is meant to be a teaser for their 4th full-length studio album "Be All End All", which is planned for release in october 2014.

"Vntrve" features 2 tracks and a full playing time of 8:45 minutes. "A Deathpact Most Imminent" is featured in the same version which will also appear on "Be All End All", while "Broken Fire" (which will also be featured on "Be All End All") is featured here in a "Slow Boat Alternative Mix".

You never know what to expect from a new Manes release as they´ve experimentet quite a lot with their sound since their early black metal days. Their next step was industrial/progressive metal and then a dark trip hop oriented sound with occasional use of rap vocals. A pretty interesting but at times also rather odd development in sound. The music on "Vntrve" is a dark experimental type of rock music with ambient electronic elements and a reference to Ulver is valid. While Manes are usually considered a metal act, you wouldn´t know that by listening to these two tracks, because there are few distorted guitars on the EP and if there are, they are not played in a riff oriented fashion. The tracks are both well composed and quite intriguing but not complex.

"Vntrve" is well produced. The sound production provides the music with the right dark atmosphere and "Vntrve" is all in all a solid and relatively promising teaser EP and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.