Artist: Maniak
Country: Sweden
Label: Self-Released
Formats: Digital EP
Year: 2023
Maniak, not to be confused with the Filipino band of the same name (and even a somewhat similar logo), releases their debut EP with ‘Speed Metal Terrorist’, a more than fitting follow-up to their ‘Deathleicher’ demo-tape from last year. Whereas those Filipinas once rose from the ashes of cultish Korihor, with these Swedish namesakes we can safely speak of a brand new band on the Old School Metal front.
The band may look youthful and formed as recently as 2020, the music can by no means be called anything modern. As the cover and title amply give away, what we have here is an extremely regressive piece of metal that seems to have been snatched straight out of the mid-80s. It exudes the soul of the early albums of bands like Onslaught, Venom, Bathory, Iron Angel, Destruction and Sodom and “second wave Black/Speed/Thrash” bands like Nifelheim, Nocturnal, Desaster, Aura Noir and Cruel Force. It comes complete with that super yummy, authentic demo-tape-level sound, some guitar leads, barking vocals (including the sporadic falsetto outbursts). With that, this hungry, young band joins a memorable list of fresh bands keeping alive what could be called the ultimate metal sound with full zest. I mean, with song titles like the title track, ‘Nocturnal Hellfire’ and ‘Total Blitzkrieg’, you actually get everything you need, right?
A band like Maniak, which satisfies my needs for the sound in such a deserving manner, gets my full appreciation and deserves 666% support.
