Album/EP

Mental Cruelty - Zwielicht (Album Review)

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Heavy Metal Wordsmith

Jun 16, 2023

7 min read

Mental Cruelty - ZwielichtReleased: June 23, 2023

Line Up:

Lukas Nicolai // VocalsMarvin Kessler // GuitarsNahuel Lozano // GuitarsViktor Dick // BassDanny Strasser // Drums

Mental Cruelty online:

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Having gone from struggling to stand out in the current deathcore scene to seriously levelling up with their 2021 LP A Hill To Die Upon, German five piece Mental Cruelty had a huge wave of momentum behind them. Though most of their touring plans were scuppered due to the continued Covid-19 pandemic, it was the necessary dismissal of now-former frontman Lucca Schmerler that could have seriously derailed the band’s future. The vocalist and founding member was a huge part of their sound - however not the whole part, with the rest of the group forging forward with a new singer and potentially the release of their career - their fourth full length Zwielicht.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXJwYl6L73w&pp=ygUObWVudGFsIGNydWVsdHk%3D

Stepping up to the microphone is Lukas Nicolai, and with big shoes to fill, the newest member does a stellar job on his debut with Mental Cruelty. More of a diverse vocalist than his predecessor, his shrieking highs have that phlegmy attack that sounds absolutely vile (in the best way), whilst also being able to hurl out some guttural lows, and even some soaring cleans. Musically, Mental Cruelty have taken all the black metal elements of A Hill To Die Upon and doubled - if not tripled - down on them. Wholly embracing the blackened style, the remaining ‘core’ elements are less prevalent, but more powerful when they come barrelling in, especially the absolutely titanic breakdowns. The songwriting is improved, transitions are strong and well thought out, and it’s some of the young German's most dense and ambitious material to date - first single ‘Symphony of a Dying Star’ being the record’s most prominent example. With it’s addition of folk-esque melodies, dancing guitar lines and usage of clean vocals, it’s a big shift of style - and a ballsy choice of the first taster. It may turn off some OG fans, but it’s a sign of a group willing to move their sound forward.

Don’t let the LP’s first taster give you the wrong message though - the Karlsruhe quintet have not softened up, not by a long shot. Zwielicht’s middle trio of songs amongst the best - if not the best - music composed by Mental Cruelty. ‘Pest', ‘Nordlys’ and ‘Mortal Shells' are huge, huge tracks, boasting every strength the band possesses. Even if you’ve heard a million beatdowns in your life, the powerhouse ending to ‘Pest’ is staggering - as to is Nicolai’s manically possessed vocals - while the lo-fi build up into the Behemoth-like ending of ‘Nordlys’ is a sure-fire pit destroyer and packs one of the best riffs of the year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpxyHRIk5vM&pp=ygUObWVudGFsIGNydWVsdHk%3D

‘Forgotten Kings’ is pure black metal, from it’s stomping pace, atmospheric guitars and lush orchestrations, while the fantastic 7 and a half minute closer ‘A Tale of Salt and Light' is a triumphant album finisher. It’s not tricky to smash out a few minor chords over the top of some blastbeats - the hardest thing to capture is the atmosphere of black metal; whether it be evil, grand or mournful, and you can tell the group have put in the work and are genuine fans of the genre and it’s various subcategories.

Lesser acts may have let the departure of a key, founding member be the death of them, but Mental Cruelty have pulled themselves back up and used it as a way to push the band and themselves as songwriters further. Embracing more black metal than ever before, they’ve truly expanded out their palate - more melodic at times, more brutal at others. There are risks taken - ‘Symphony of a Dying Star’ will be divisive to some - but there is still plenty of neck-snapping carnage, while repeated listens will reveal it’s deepest hooks and moments. With a fantastic new vocalist on board, Mental Cruelty have managed to top their previous career best and have dropped the album of their career with Zwielicht.