SOLVE ET COAGULA

Solve et Coagula is a limited to 1000 copies EP release by Norwegian experimental rock/ metal ( in this case black metal) act Manes. I´ve been waiting for a new release by Manes since the release of their third full-length studio album How The World Came to an End (2007). Now I wasn´t too impressed with the latter but I adore their second full-length studio album Vilosophe (2003), and was hoping for a return to the experimental rock/ metal style, with lots of electronic elements, from that album. Once again I´m taken by complete surprise by Manes though as they seem to have gone back to their black metal roots on Solve et Coagula. A very strange move since their last black metal release was their debut full-length studio album Under ein Blodraud Maane from 1999.

The EP has six tracks. The first song is the 15:21 minute long title track ( supposedly re- recorded material from 1994-95). It´s an experimental post black metal track and a very enjoyable and well composed one at that. It´s harsh yet melodic, symphonic but never overblown. If the rest of the EP was of this high standard I would have struggled to give less that a 4 star rating but unfortunately that´s not the case. The remaining five songs are a remixed version of the Ned I Stillheten (1994) Demo. The demo is remixed in a slower speed by Cernunnus who is the mainman behind Manes. Now as the original Demo was recorded on a broken 4-track recorder and featured one of the most noisy and obnoxious lo-fi ( non)productions I´ve ever heard, I didn´t think it was likely that I would enjoy the same demo tape in a remixed version in slower speed. And I was absolutely right about that assumption. What a scam! I´m sorry to use such harsh words but this is simply not good enough. I find it unacceptable that a band of Manes caliber will release something like this. Fortunately the title track saves this EP from total disaster and it is only because of that song that I will give a 2 star rating. I can´t recommend a purchase though which is really too bad since the title track is of such high quality. I do hope they will leave their black metal past behind after this release and concentrate on a new full-length studio album. Hopefully in their more current experimental rock/ metal style.