Sword Toward Self - Dissolution Mantras   

Jaw dropping Oz talent to watch out for

The sheer level of talent on display here goes to prove that Australia has plenty to offer on the metal world stage. It would be an understatement to say Sydney’s originally titled Sword Toward Self are talented musicians in their own right. Only forming in 2006, they’ve unleashed a tsunami of black, death and thrash metal inspired mayhem with three blistering tracks and stunning performances from Phil Brown guitars/vocals, Dan Nahum on drums and 6 string bass player Henry Lauer.

The self titled first track is an eight minute epic, bursting out of the gates in brutal fashion with riff gymnastics and sublime bass work all backed by furious drumming. Four minutes in and the maelstrom drops out into a folky acoustic passage, clean vocals and fine bass work that works very effectively due to the sudden jolt back to the brutality. There’s also competent displays of technicality here that brings to mind the riffing of Odious Mortem or Atheist, used sparingly and not too overwhelming. The changes in style that ebb and flow through the song are near on flawless and have been obviously worked on in the jam room to great effect. Regress/Regret maintains the blackened assault, bulldozer like blasting and double kicks back the fast paced riffing.

Complete with an outstanding lead guitar section, this track is shorter at three and a half minutes and pummels from start to finish. Final track Iridescent Wings of the Ungods again leaps straight into the realms of chaos with sublime guitar and bass runs for the opening verse, breaking down into a mid pace and then into a doom-laden ethereal dirge. The five minute track rounding out as it began, blasting it’s way through more impressive riffing.

How Phil can maintain the inhuman growls and play these riffs is beyond me. One problem I can envisage with only one guitarist is the lead sections in a live situation may sound thinner without the rhythms backing them on this EP. Maybe they have plans for a second guitarist one day but from I what I have read recently they are more than competent live, which I hope to get the opportunity to see for myself soon. Plans for a debut album entitled Entropy Sutra are already in motion and from what you’ll hear on this EP, it should be an awesome addition to the Sword Toward Self legacy. Dissolution Mantras is a display of brutal Aussie metal that should not be missed.

(Independent)

Added: February 22nd 2008
Reviewer: Mark Lennard
Score:
Related Link: Official Website
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