Album Review: Man Must Die – The Pain Behind It All (Distortion Music Group)

Tech death metal band, Man Must Die return with their first new album in eight years. Called ‘The Pain Behind It All’, it will be released on February 17th, 2023, via Distortion Music Group.

An aggressive return for Man Must Die, the Scots are spitting and snarling with bristling intensity on The Pain Behind It All. Delivering ten head-crushing blasts of crunchy and scathing tech-death that showcases instrumental complexities blended with unrelenting speed, and manic vocalisation.

The intro of O.C.D. being notable for its ‘fuck it’ statement, which leads nicely into the frenzied heaviness of Patterns in the Chaos. Man Must Die making sure that the first proper track on this album showcases their re-energised viciousness in all its nasty glory. Although, it’s no surprise that this is just one part of an experience that is consistently brutal sounding. The title track, In the Hour Before Your Death and Clickhate, also hitting with all the force of a concreate slab dropped from on high.

Man Must Die are unleashing a lot of pent-up anger here and filtering it through a sensational style of technical savagery. While it’s easy to focus on the blistering heaviness of it all, the mastery of the instruments and how the chaos can result in something so memorable, is what truly impresses.

It’s how we end up with something as great as Enabler. A track that begins with deep, gothic-sounding tones and transitions into a thumping head-banger. The pounding drums, epic guitars, and roaring vocals make this slower tempo track one the album’s strongest efforts.

No complaints about Bring Me the Head of the King or War is My Will though. Both are raging balls of energy and intensity. Man Must Die continuing to deliver violent sounding vitriol as though the past eight years hadn’t happened.

That turning back the clock, while not sounding like a repeat of their previous work, ensures this album stays hot right up to the very end. First, Alone in A Crowed Room, a peaceful piece of melody that gets worrisome as it goes on. Then, the finale of Who Goes There?/I.F.F. Which delivers one last bout of carnage, Man Must Die going all out to smash skulls and break bones with the sheer speed of it. A brutal closer to a brutal album.

Man Must Die – The Pain Behind It All Track Listing:

1. O.C.D
2. Patterns in the Chaos
3. The Pain Behind it All
4. In the Hour Before Your Death
5. Clickhate
6. Enabler
7. Bring Me the Head of the King
8. War is My Will
9. Alone in A Crowded Room
10. Who Goes There?/I.F.F

Links

Big Cartel | Facebook | Distortion Music Group