LANKESTER MERRIN
“Dark Mother Rises”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

9/10

Lankester Merrin are a melodic power metal band from Germany formed in 2019, releasing two albums to date – ‘Upon The Forgotten’ (2021) and ‘Dark Mother Rises’ released in 2023.

The band – and the info sheet supplied by their record label – classify Lankester Merrin as a “female fronted” metal band. And while yes that’s true, I personally don’t like using the term “female fronted” – after all, we don’t use the term “male fronted” to classify male fronted bands! So why should we discriminate? As far as I’m concerned, Lankester Merrin are a melodic power metal band with a female lead singer. Simple as that, right! Okay – minor rant over! The bands new album features nine power driven metal songs in just under forty minutes – ‘We Ride The Storm’ storming into life with incisive purpose and intent! And with a little hint of countrymen Running Wild, and British icons Iron Maiden, ‘We Ride The Storm’ is an infectious “foot on the monitor” gallop of catchy metal! A stunning opening that’s gonna turn heads and make listeners sit up and take notice…

…’Bone Tomahawk’ a more punchy and bustling affair! The thunderous nature of ‘Bone Tomahawk’ is deafening, the in your face attitude intimidating, with the voice of singer Cat Rogers sultry and sensuous. The metal across the albums opening brace has been infectious and eye-catching – surely that should be ear-catching – shuddering the ground hard and resonating with a heart pounding rhythm. The supermodel catwalk looks of singer Rogers are gonna set many hearts a flutter (mine included), as is the music on offer – the band moving on with the classic sounding power metaller ‘Medusa’. Lankester Merrin have delivered a breathless opening triple, the energy and intensity levels higher than the Zugspitze mountain range in Germany! And without breaking their stride, the band power on with the fastest song heard so far – ‘The Heathen’ performed at a perfect head banging pace. All the head bangers around the world are gonna love this one, the mosh pits in a live arena will be frenzied and full of electric energy – please Lankester Merrin play ‘The Heathen’ live!

More sedately and with more hard rock punch than anything heard up to this point, the band rock hard with ‘Perfect Illusion’ – echoing nineties-era Lita Ford, more specifically Lita’s 1991 album ‘Dangerous Curves’ – Lankester Merrin bringing to the fore an American rock sound that was prevalent during the late eighties and into the nineties. Such variation in the bands sound opens their music up to a very wide audience – the audience definitely metal for the hard and heavy ‘Stranger’. And a melodious sing a long style chorus to give every listener, fan, follower and concert goer an opportunity to scream and screech to their hearts content. Again – only if the band perform this one live! ‘My Journey’ drops all the energy and oomph of the album so far, replacing it with a serenity that indicates incoming balladry! But nope, the band proceed to punch hard and kick harder with a mighty foot stomping attitude strong enough to demolish buildings!

And with just two songs remaining, Lankester Merrin pick up the pace once more, ‘Sweet Lizzie’ galloping on with all the gusto of old school heavy metal, the iconic foot on the monitor feel coming to the fore – with the level of head bang ability shooting through the fucking roof! All album the band have wandered between the power and heavy metal genres, delivering an infectious, catchy and immensely melodic journey – a journey that comes to an end with ‘Evil Lives Here’. And a chilling spoken word intro, ably matched by the menacing music as the band stealthily increase the tension. Breaking out into a canter, ‘Evil Lives Here’ maintains ‘Dark Mother Rises’s high intensity, yet all the while retaining a dark and moody air of menace.

Overall, an infectious and highly head bang-able romp of melodic power metal with a strong traditional metal influence.

TRACKLIST

We Ride The Storm
Bone Tomahawk
Medusa
The Heathen
Perfect Illusion
Stranger
My Journey
Sweet Lizzie
Evil Lives Here

https://www.facebook.com/LankesterMerrinBand

This review is the property of Iron Mathew and Metal Gods TV. It is strictly prohibited to copy any part of this review, unless you have both of the parties’ permission, or are the band/record label/PR company in question. Failure to adhere to these instructions will be considered as Plagiarism and you will be reported to the appropriate authorities

---