Mourning Magdalene- Six Songs of Self-Loathing

ARTIST: Mourning Magdalene
ALBUM: Six Songs of Self-Loathing
LABEL: Self-released
REVIEWER: Matthew J.
DATE: 8-23-08

Crunchy metal with dark themes and bass-heavy grooves, Mourning Magdalene combines the depressive decadence of Marilyn Manson with the heavy, rhythm-driven head-banging of groups like Dope and Korn. This EP's opening track, "Bite," is perhaps its most impressive, with a chorus of staccato ballads underscored by thumping drums and bass guitar that brings to mind Pantera's best aggressive anthems. "Dead Flowers" plays up the morbid side with guttural semi-spoken vocals and spooky church organs, while "Desire" is faster and more melodic, though no less evil. "Self" is aggressive but groovy in the same vein as White Zombie, but with more organic-sounding drums and a cocky chorus that recalls the sleazy Hollywood metal of groups like Faster Pussycat, albeit with bitter misanthropy standing in for playful misogyny. A sort of new school power ballad, "Sundays Best" is the odd man out, but thankfully "Video Suicide" brings back the nastiness with a bass-driven funky head-banger of a song that belies its catchy guitar and vocal hooks with some extremely vitriolic lyrics; it's fun in its way, but certainly not friendly. Almost unrelentingly dark and aggressive, this is nonetheless cathartic stuff, and its combination of the bass grooves and dark attitude of modern metal with the occasional flashy shredding and sing-along vocal hooks of classic hard rock will likely appeal to fans of both.

Visit Mourning Magdalene's MySpace page at www.myspace.com/mourningmagdalene.