It's hard to believe that 2012 notes 17 years since the formed of Mantak. Malaysian religious authority probably has given up praying to God so as to have more spirit and power to encounter ‘bad-influences’ of black metal, such authority failed, black metal won the fight. With only two lo-fi demo tapes within five years interval, their first official EP,
Dark Borneo Art (2000), has given them a wide recognition from local metal scenes. But unfortunately, their debut LP,
Eye of Deviant (2002), has led them to disenchantment outcome. Many local critics had given bad reviews. However, those who have given such a bad approval, actually do deserve to be questioned, whether they had a negative preconception upon black metal in general or not. This is important question, because not only religious and national prominent figures who always fear black metal fever on young people, but also their fellow country musicians and music magazine editors. After all, to speak about such sentiment is irrelevant after all, Mantak still keep on moving. So far, they have four LPs, six EPs, and a few split albums. Their sixth EP,
Evilust Necrolust (2012), is more than just simply mini-album. It shows people how Mantak are still right on track. Who knows, their forthcoming full-length album will be more venomous.
This EP has a slightly different sound output, especially between the first-three and the last-three tracks. This thing happened, probably due to different studio recording, sound preference direction, or whatsoever. The first-three are a bit louder, noisier, and more abrasive than the last-three tracks. Such a difference output actually somewhat represents Mantak's predecessor LPs, especially
Polymorphous Perversion and
Diabolical Psycholust. The self-titled opening track,
Evilust Necrolust, is pretty enticed effort. It shows how Naz Razak's vocalizing is still at his best as fans could get in
Sabahell's Blasphemer. Naz's atmospheric guitar riffs nicely matched with the intense thrash drumming of Shaun Yazeed. Whereas his fellow band-mates have a good chemistry, bassist Kevin Helvete does not ruin such a harmony play. He is able to balance the velocity. His drive-in bass play is capable to shore up and fill the space when Naz has a slow-breaks or in a solo section. When follow-on track
Ov Hells and Blasphemies comes to strike the ears, those who are familiar with Mantak will know that the first-two songs would be somewhat a nice progress of Mantak's musical journey, particularly in sound direction approach. However, the rest tracks have similar aura from what fans usually feel in Mantak's predecessor releases. If you've ever heard the self-titled track of their 2009's LP,
Diabolical PsychoLust, you'd be glad, this EP brings the another version of it. This version basically has no significant difference with the original one. In the side of song tempo, frenetic fear-inducing sounds, both of them are pretty similar. Anyway, the EP's version is shorter than the original one, Mantak have cut it in almost 50 percent of the original version lengthy. Also, just prepare to listen a cover-version song of Bathory,
Armageddon. As Mantak amazingly ever did before in covering Tankard, Kreator, and even Black Sabbath song, they won't fail the fans with this Bathory's hit.
Well, what makes this EP so worthy is the solid amalgamated black, thrash, and death metal stylized - it was well done. During a decade and a half of career, Mantak have no such a drastic musical changes, except sound direction approaches.
Evilust Necrolust is a good continuation of their musical endeavors. It's a wise chance for them to fill four years time-gap after the latest
Diabolical Psycholust in 2009. Sometimes, an EP is also a good way to demonstrate band’s upcoming full-length album. So, if you love the first-three songs of this EP, you probably will anticipate their upcoming LP in the near future.
