The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara Album Review
Album Title: ‘FULL SPECTRUM’
Here at Off the Hook Music we have sat watching and listening to The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara as they found their way towards their debut album, Full Spectrum. We’ve seen and heard the progress with the singles which have led to this album. There is a feeling of maturity to the newest records and hope for the 5 new tracks on the album to climb to the sky and reach new heights.
Daphne Ang and Andrea Papi, the two members of The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara have opened the cracks of the musical world making what you can only say is a beginning of a new genre of music, which mixes expressional musical layers laced with dramatic performance poetry. The album sweeps across such a wide spectrum of music genres – from progressive rock to techno, metal to ambient and electronic, and back to rock.
The songs are arranged in a way that you as a listener can experience a range of emotion. This is most felt within the track ‘Deus Ex Machina’ a dark and moody textured song with menacing lyrics which paints a vivid picture in your mind, the rhythmic beat of colossal war drums drives down your spine like a march.
Before for ‘Deus Ex Machina’ you have the debut single for the band, ‘Atoms’ which first caught our attention to this unique band, The content of the track deals with the existential questions surrounding mankind’s purpose and place in the world, with a steady tempo that makes you feel like you’ve entered a rabbit hole of musical events happening through your senses.
Gritty and intriguing, ‘Mata Hari’ is a change in direction for the band and album, a soft tone and construction to the other songs around it on the album, a futuristic rock sound which has it DNA wrapped around the 1980’s but described by Daphne and Andrea as track which belongs to the year 2080, as strange as it sounds when you hear the track you can’t help but agree with the description.
‘Love in the Time of Pestilence’ was released in late November 2020 with a music video which paid tribute and homage to all the healthcare professionals around the world who have risked their own lives to save the lives of others. It is fitting for the time we are in now and a message which needs to be heard. History is needed to be learnt from so stop, listen, and watch, the video and enhance your understanding of the band and its mission.
Taking the album to a finale is the lead track ‘At The Worlds End’ the latest single from the album, a progressive metal song that imagines the world in the end times in order to raise awareness on the effects of mankind on our planet's environment. You can’t help but enjoy and allow the music seep into your consciousness, because Full Spectrum is not just an album but an expression and a piece of art beyond music. Hopefully in future material by The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara will be able to shine brighter lights as a sign of hope which may develop through what people have learnt through their music.
4 Hooks out of 5
Written by Kess Anthony
The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara single review
Track Title: At The Worlds End
‘At The World’s End’ is the opening insight to The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara’s debut album which will be released later this year but hopefully not too far away. It is always important for the right tone to be set to build an awareness and excitement about the future album.
The focus and spirit of this track is an awakening that man’s actions have an effect on the planet which we inhabit, The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara explains this is a story told through the eyes of two lovers who exchange a final declaration of love on the last days of earth. Some heavy stuff there, but deep down in the pit of our stomachs we are all aware of the situation in front of us but unable to delicately explain the situation, so maybe we may find our voices through this track.
The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara have a sense of a dark and menacing biographical fair to this music, meaningful rich lyrics imprinted to the front of your mind that has a hypnotic and spine tingling quality, with an background instrumental performance that stamps and presses heavy, rough, and raw textures that combined together to make this track an exploration.
We got to say the record is grabbing on it’s own played through your headphones, but for the full experience, watch the music video as the music and visual displays are equally absorbing!
3.5 Hooks out of 5
Written By Kess Anthony
The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara single review
Track Title: The Descent
On first listen of ‘The Descent’ by The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara you are in for a treat. On second, third, and forth listen you begin to become aware of it as a piece of art beyond music in so many ways.
The beginning of the song is the narrated poetic voice of Mother Nature expressing her wishes and feelings and impending concern, but then half way through the track new life is breathed through it with heavy distorted guitar textures and a visual beat. The energy from this new texture is absorbing and allows the meaningful and awaking lyrics to take its most important stage.
‘The Descent’ will enhance your knowledge and understanding, at the same time providing a massive moving musical background, the changes within the layers are harsh and reflective of the vocals. To get a full sense of the brutal and beautiful nature of ‘The Descent’, we here at Off the Hook Music suggest you watch the video which goes with this record.
3.5 Hooks out of 5
Written by Kess Anthony