Review: Manic Abraxas ‘Skinformation’

For somebody who had no idea who Manic Abraxas were before reviewing this, their latest, self-released, eight-track and near forty minutes album Skinformation, my head was on a bit of a meltdown when I started listening to their fourth long-player as there is just so much to take in from the three-piece powerhouse.

Based in the wooded northern realms of Bangor, Maine, they are challenging musical conventions and pushing boundaries to see how far they can bend before they break! But break them they do, as it’s unhinged, unapologetic and unrelenting. From the self-named opener, right the way through to the final onslaught that is Neurogenic Magician, there is so much happening across each track.

I can’t lie though, it took me a while to get used to the vocals from both Dallas Seger, (vocals, guitars and synth along with being the man behind Seger Guitars) and Justin Hamm, (vocals, bass and synth), but that shouldn’t distract from the musicianship that the band display as the sound is excellent from the word go, and showcased particularly well on TranscendX. This second track feels like an exercise in torture, to see how much of a pounding your brain can sustain, with the cymbals taking one hell of a pummelling from drummer Thomas Bennett.

That heavy killer bass sound adds so much to the composition and the audible insanity on display really does mess with your head, in the best possible way of course…

Nanodust and Winter’s Mute continue their whirlwind of sound as they share their dystopian sonic manifesto that delves into the dark underbelly of a bleak cyberpunk hive world, where faceless assassins and data-huffers roam free, and one in which information is the ultimate currency. The latter being an excellent song, with a different vocal style but nonetheless pounds you further into submission, with an excellent riff/synth combo that gives off industrial vibes.

With title track Skinformation, the bass steals the show. It’s a longer song that has a more robust doom sound to it and feels dirtier and more sinister than the others as biomesh enhanced collectors wipe their victims clean with a mere touch. That heavy killer bass sound adds so much to the composition and the audible insanity on display really does mess with your head, in the best possible way of course. Cyber Satyr follows and gives further insight into the minds of the trio, as it isn’t quite as manic but demonstrates a more controlled approach, yet sadly, as the solo starts to build up pace, it stops rather abruptly, which is a shame.

Dark Builder has a sublime bass lick all the way through and allows the three friends, who first met in 2012, to showcase more catchy riffs and underground hooks with their aggressive and energetic sound. It kicks up a few notches in the mid-section, before settling back down to the rhythm that has served them well thus far. It ends with Neurogenic Magician another top-notch song with its haunting melody and deep groove that will leave you begging for more.

Label: Independent
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram

Scribed by: Matthew Williams