Review Summary: Demented, hypnotic and downright suffocating, Pervertor is one of the most staggering metal albums of the year.
Crafting an album that sounds inherently dangerous and disturbing is quite an achievement in extreme metal. Lord Mantis are one of these bands whose main task is to shock and thus make their listeners feel profoundly uneasy. The second album of Chicago foursome reaches the pinnacle of fear that so many other bands strive for.
Pervertor relies on the atmosphere that's gloomy, hostile and downright suffocating by means of a staggering studio production courtesy of the great Sanford Parker. The sound of the record revolves around a decidedly warm tone which perfectly emphasizes the technical rhythm section along with muscular riffs that range from chunky and palm-muted to dissonant and hypnotic.
An essential feature of
Pervertor is its monumental scope. The decision to ditch thrash tendencies of Lord Mantis' previous disc in favour of black metal aesthetics couldn't be more appropriate. As a result, the arrangements feel grander and more spacey than before. However,
Pervertor is a sludge metal record in its very essence. That's why the tempo is largely sluggish and meandering throughout, while guitars retain a muddy tone which is often manoeuvred into an almost orchestral territory like in mind-blowing “Vile Divinity.” The dystopian vibe of the disc is enhanced by distorted, raspy screams of bassist/vocalist Charlie Fell who delivers a truly devastating performance in every single track. His vicious growls are an integral part of the music working in perfect symbiosis with the act's overpowering sound.
Overall,
Pervertor is an immense album that finds Lord Mantis revelling in their demented brand of sludge metal. Even though the disc is nothing less than demanding in its reception, there's some sort of twisted tenderness involved in a meticulously designed style of the quartet that proves to be totally irresistible in the long run.
