In a world where every style of metal is being pulled in every imaginable direction, the word "progressive" almost loses its meaning if you're not paying attention. That can particularly be the case in the realms of death metal where some minute shift can be seen as a wild shift towards a more progressive nature with those that really go all-in manage to delve out new territory for the sound or, at the very least, do their own thing especially if it means going against the grain. For their second album after a nine-year silence, Mind Control delivers an eclectic album that is as sprawling as it is attentive to many of the modern tropes that make this particular corner of progressive death metal so interesting.
There are two types of progressive metal creations: (1) those that really seek to put forth a dazzling display through crafting new performances that seek to melt the mind, and (2) those that infuse their own flavors into the mix without getting too crazy to offer a more approachable experience but one that is certainly technically and musically impressive from all angles. By all accounts, Mind Control easily fits into the latter of the two with "Elements" standing as a massive 13-track testament to such. There is so much brought to the table and so much that's accomplished on a consistent basis within "Elements" that you are always on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to come next. Be it in the form of some immense riffage, dynamic songwriting that never treads the same area twice for virtually the entire album, a powerful duet between two distinct vocalists that come together for quite a powerful performance, or the sheer talent behind the instruments themselves, "Elements" is immeasurably dense with all that it has to offer for any who find themselves wandering its depths. There is so much to uncover within this extensive album as Mind Control finds a magnificent balance between a modern approach and adhering to just enough of death metal's concepts and values while always leaving itself more than enough space to explore other sonic territory which the progressive aspect of the sound takes full advantage of in every given moment. Not so much as a dull moment to be had in this nearly 62-minute record, "Elements" has tons to call its own and boast proudly about.
A work that manages to tackle a lot of different factors and work them into a singular work that is as cohesive as it is diverse is a work that is a success by all accounts. Even if you find yourself not jiving with what Mind Control has put forth in this offering, their technical prowess along with their deep-seeded passion cannot be denied. If it takes another nine years for "Elements" to get a follow-up then I, for one, am more than willing to wait that long, if not longer.
LISTEN to "Elements" via multiple sources here.
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