Last year the Ohio-based blasphemous three-piece released their Demo "Ritual Cleansing Of The Whore" on MCD / LP as a collaboration between Merciless Records and Breath Of Night and left behind an extremely positive impression when they toured Europe with BLACK WITCHERY, AVENGER, ARMAGEDDA and KRIEG. Now MANTICORE’s BEHERIT, ARCHGOAT, PROFANATICA-influenced blackened Death Metal proves itself on their first full-length and holy hell… they really managed to top the MCD. Although they improved the sound only marginally, the song material is just destined to be a future classic (at least in my opinion). MANTICORE create brutal christmocking songs that unlike bands like MORBOSIDAD are not just infernal, blasphemous noise attacks but actually have a couple of really strong and – I hate to say this word – catchy hooks and lines. In MANTICORE’s case this is not a sign for wimp-out or shit like that, but exactly what makes them so unique, individual and good. While retaining brutality and grim aggression they have memorable structures, understandable almost whispering Death Metal vocals and so managed to prevent the music from just rushing by. The fast opener ‘Our Will Is His’, the sinister mid-tempo track ‘Feast Of The Beast’, ‘Urine Flowing Through The Veins Of Christ’, the BEHERIT-Cover ‘The Gate Of Nanna’, ‘Unholy Awakeneing’ and all other songs just fucking kill!!!! If you like raw sounding, uncompromising, very dark, possessed Death Metal that will grant you long-time pleasure get this album. It’s one of my favourites this year.