Musical Ramblings: New vocalist gives solid sound to MNEMIC

MNEMIC - Passenger

Just like when Anthrax changed from longtime vocalist Joey Belladonna to John Bush (don't get me started on the “reunion that's no longer a reunion” garbage), Amorphis changed their vocalist and if you're a Maiden fan and Bruce Dickenson left, I felt really disappointed when I heard that MNEMIC parted with their vocalist last year and replaced him almost immediately.

I really dug their last disc, The Audio Injected Soul, and if you're a metal fan (especially if you dig Fear Factory around the Demanufacture era), you owe it to yourself to own that disc. Now that their new release is finally available, I have to say that Passenger holds true to the MNEMIC formula and sees the band actually go forward in terms in catchy melody but also farther in the opposite direction for those who love complicated time changes and Meshuggah-type riffing.

New vocalist, Guillaume Bideau, seems right at home with the band and adds a new flare, but not one so far off from previous vocalist, Michael Bogballe. The reviews that I was reading leading up to getting my hands on this seemed to suggest that there was a night and day difference that really affected not only the band's sound but their overall album unity. I have to strongly disagree on that notion.

The album as a whole is solid and has many catchy areas of the songs. The lead off track, “In the Nothingness Black” will have you tapping along with the double bass drumming goodness and have you humming along by the second time that you hear it. “In Control” is another great tune but starts off with a vocal hook that makes you think the song is going to be radio friendly.

Although the album is indeed solid, it just didn't have overall power and catchiness that their last disc did. That's no slant against the new addition to the band either. Steallar playing, arrangements and singing can be found on this and should also not be missed by metal fans.