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Mournblade > Mangled Lies > Reviews
Mournblade - Mangled Lies

Not very good but it is better than nothing - 40%

InfantryAnt, December 4th, 2019
Written based on this version: 2006, CD, Open Grave Records

This 5 track EP is one I found in a two dollar bin at the local record shop and bought it because of the song titles. After playing this it reminds me of the hundreds of local bands trying to crank out a record without much work on it. These guys took the basic three chord riffs and laid down some simple bass and drums. For a band that started in 1987, it seems they lost out in the Los Angeles metal scene as a opening act for many more polished groups in that time period.

The tracks on this CD are very plain and sound like they're stuck in a loop track. The title track "Mournblade" is a repeat of the same four chords over and over, then it goes up the neck and finishes with a power chord before returning to the same four chords. No solo was on this track. Jeff Blacky's vocals were nothing more than a growl. The bass was almost lost in most of these tracks. The drums didn't stand out at all; I figure they hired a rock drummer instead of a metal drummer for this was a complete mess. The following tracks like "Holy War" and "Lord of Chaos" had basic three chord riffs with a minor change in the tempo which were more annoying as it repeated itself over and over. I did like the songwriting for "Holy War", which I can say are better arranged than the other tracks on this disk. The track flowed well with the lyrics and the vocalist was clear and understandable with a touch of present day Tom Angelripper of Sodom.

I hated the lyrics overall as it had a lot of the same death and war themes you can find in early Venom and Faithful Breath records from 1981 to 1983. Of the three artists on this EP only the guitarist really stands out and knows his instrument, but no solos appear anywhere on the CD, which you find later on the next two EPs. The only track that stands out is "Set", a one minute and something second thrash metal master piece. It was composed by Jeff Blacky according to the band's bio sometime in 1988, and after watching a live clip of this track I was really amazed that he can play this on a bass and do the vocals at the same time at that tempo and speed.

Overall for two dollars it was worth it, but the production was bad and noisy. I gave it a 40% only and even then it was a gift for trying. This trio should've considered getting a second guitarist and a new drummer and move Jeff Blacky to the back with his bass and get a new vocalist.