Best of Canberra Music with Vince Leigh
Navigating the turbulent waters of the death metal scene, Canberra’s own Mental Cavity have dropped their latest EP, Waste Clearance, a concise foray into their established sonic territory with a mix of original tracks and covers.
Since 2017, the band has carved out their niche within the genre’s cavernous realms, offering a blend of ferocity and technical acumen that’s become their hallmark. Waste Clearance, while not a seismic shift in their trajectory, offers a glimpse into their current state of their musical evolution.
The opener, Enraptured Being, plunges the listener into the thick of the band’s sound, a relentless assault that’s as much a testament to their genre proficiency as it is a showcase of their individual talents. Yet, despite the evident skill, a strangely comforting sense of familiarity envelops the track—a testament to the band’s ability to hit all the right notes in the death metal genre, showcasing their impressive command and collective musical muscle.
Recreant follows a similar blueprint, delivering the expected blast beats and guttural vocal onslaught. The musicianship is a solid, competently executed maelstrom highlighting the promised spark of unpredictability and/or deviation from future offerings.
The covers—tributes to Autopsy and Disrupt—underline the band’s ability to honour their roots with remarkable reverence and technical precision. These renditions showcase their adeptness at channelling the essence of their influences while embedding their unique stamp, illustrating a respectful dialogue between their musical heritage and artistic voice.
On Twisted Mass of Burnt Decay, the track unfolds with relentless straight quarter note thumps, building a dense, unstoppable sonic wall. The vocal style intricately weaves through this auditory barrage, adding a unique texture. As the track nears its two-minute mark, it intriguingly slows down, simulating a festering decay before accelerating towards a climactic and explosive finale.
Mindlock introduces itself with an enthralling feedback loop that sets the stage for yet another intense auditory journey. This track stands out with its skilled and convulsive drumming, which adds a new layer of complexity to the EP. The dynamic shifts are further accentuated by what appears to be gang-style shrieks and wails, creating a raw and immersive listening experience that encapsulates the band’s ability to explore and experiment within the confines of their genre.
Waste Clearance sees the individual talents—Aaron, Alex, Rohan, Simon, and Julian—merge to create a cohesive unit. While it may tread familiar ground, the EP is a testament to the band’s solid foundation in the genre, highlighting their commitment to the core elements that make death metal resonate with its fans. Their musicianship is not just a display of technical prowess but a celebration of the genre’s enduring appeal, offering a sound that is alluring in its familiarity and impressive in its execution. This latest release underscores the band’s understanding of what makes death metal tick, affirming their place within the genre while setting a solid groundwork for future exploration and innovation.
Have a listen on Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.
Catch Mental Cavity on Sat 20th April supporting Suffocation at The Baso. Get yer tickets via Oztix!