Mehida - _Blood & Water_
(Napalm, 2007)
by: Quentin Kalis (8 out of 10)
Although this is their debut album, Mehida's constituent members are no newcomers to the scene, with a collective CV that includes stints with legendary bands such as Therion and Candlemass. _Blood & Water_ is marketed as "progressive melodic metal" -- which for the hardcore prog metal fan will probably be seen as a euphemism for accessible or commercial metal, with a sprinkling of complex chord progressions. They would be correct to a certain extent: Mehida clearly value good song structures and catchy melodies over technical wankery. Those unorthodox time changes and unusual chord progressions are a lot more accessible when accompanied by a hummable and catchy chorus!

The vocalist possesses a decent range and tone, sticking largely to clean vocals, except for the beginning of "Multitude", where he indulges in some grunting. An unexpected inclusion, but also a poor choice as it draws attention to his saccharine approach, which is a bit too upbeat for a metal band. It's not as if these are gloomy numbers, but a bit of venom would be appreciated.

I cannot find flaws in their musicianship or production, certainly not any of significance. However, their song writing skills need some development, as a number are simply dull -- "Wings of Dove" is especially narcoleptic. The balance is in their favour, and their debut is a pleasing and accessible listen.

Contact: http://www.mehida.com

(article published 3/10/2007)


RSS Feed RSS   Facebook Facebook   Twitter Twitter  ::  Mobile : Text  ::  HTML : CSS  ::  Sitemap

All contents copyright 1995-2024 their individual creators.  All rights reserved.  Do not reproduce without permission.

All opinions expressed in Chronicles of Chaos are opinions held at the time of writing by the individuals expressing them.
They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of anyone else, past or present.