Share the post "Album Review: MEKONG DELTA – In A Mirror Darkly"
Steamhammer/SPV – Out Now.
A good thirty years since their inception, and German Prog Thrashers Mekong Delta continue to be an unknown entity for quite a few Metalheads out there – a state of affairs that surprises and annoys me in equal terms.
While fans like myself are left annoyed by this inconceivable injustice, mastermind and founding member Ralph Hubert continues undeterred to bridge the gap between the two styles of music he loves best: classical and Metal, and in the process has created another album of outstanding vision and immense quality, entitled “In A Mirror Darkly” – the band’s tenth to date.
This historic band has been the breeding ground of many outstanding musicians over the years, however I am sure that many fans will agree with me in saying that it’s since 2008, the year that saw Martin LeMar (vocals), Erik Adam H.Grosch (guitars) and Benedikt Zimniak (guitars) together, that the quintet began to truly flourish.
Consisting of seven compositions which combine top class melodies with highly intricate rhythmical passages, “In A Mirror Darkly” is testament not only to the individual skills of each of the band’s members involved, but also of the great chemistry and collective spirit which characterises Mekong Delta era 2014.
Opening track “Introduction + Ouverture” combines acoustic guitar harmonies with highly intricate Metal riffs and prepares the ground perfectly for the musical onslaught that’s to take place in the remaining thirty seven minutes of the album.
Martin LeMar leads the proceedings almost instantaneously in “The Armageddon Machine” – a composition filled with intelligent lead guitar melodies, which shows how gelled the band’s rhythm section of Hubert/Landenburg really is.
The atmospheric follow up “The Silver In Gods Eye” slows the album’s pace significantly, leaving enough space for LeMar to prove his musical pedigree, while “Janus” offers a truly bombastic riff and harmonic/melodic guitar passages of sheer theatrical value, reminiscent of those employed by the mighty Savatage during their prime.
The six minute instrumental “Inside The Outside Of The Inside” catches the band’s rhythm section at their absolute best, while the Jazz infused Thrash monster “Hindsight Bias” ought to inspire scores of young musicians to practice harder their respective instruments.
How does one conclude an album as impressive as this one? With another seven minutes of flamboyant solos, technically demanding passages and dynamic vocals – the very formula responsible behind the creation of the glorious “Mutant Messiah”.
Thirty years ago bands like Mekong Delta did not stand any chance of making their music available to the masses as the music industry was controlled by a handful of enterprising individuals whose wallets were the driving force behind all decisions.
Now that the power is finally in the hands of music fans rather than PR departments of multinational companies, now it is finally time to address the previously mentioned injustice and embrace a band whose quality and vision are second to none.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mekong Delta – a band which just happened to release one of the best albums so far this year! *****
Review by John Stefanis
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album Review: MEKONG DELTA – In A Mirror Darkly"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
