Mind Control is an Italian Progressive Death Metal band that was established in 2014 with the release of their debut studio album. Their second full-length album was launched on December 1, 2023. Subsequently, on December 20, 2024, the band released an EP entitled “Ghosts Of Past and Present.”
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Mind Control, Ghosts Of Past and Present Review: This review will evaluate every aspect of the album, from its intricate musical composition to its production. Our analysis will provide valuable insights to help you determine if this album is worth adding to your collection.
The First Three Sins of Ghosts Of Past and Present
Let’s start by discussing the first three sins of Mind Control and their album, Ghosts Of Past and Present
The First Sin, The Strings/Keys: Consisting of death and djent riffs, with rhythms that interwove with clean chords and flashy shred soloing fillings. The Second Sin, The Vocals: Characterized by a dynamic interplay of death growls and clean singing. The Third Sin—The Percussions: Full-throttle rhythmic battering from the drums, adding an extra layer of intensity to the powerful music.
The Fourth Sin: Overall Discussion:
Inviting listeners to lose themselves in a magical world where the familiar melodies of the season are reimagined…
The moment the listener hits the play button, they are welcomed by a captivating rendition of Carol Of The Bells, enveloping the listener in a rich tapestry of progressive instrumentals and a whimsical ambiance. This enchanting introduction transports the listener into the heart of the Christmas spirit, evoking the ethereal essence reminiscent of early Nightwish, particularly from their Once album and Nightmare Before Christmas.
The entire composition resonates with echoes of their earlier progressive death metal roots, weaving a complex soundscape that is both nostalgic and fresh. Each note dances through the air, inviting listeners to lose themselves in a magical world where the familiar melodies of the season are reimagined with a bold, innovative flair.
As the listener immerses themselves in the next track, Re:Visions confronts them with a powerful blend of intensity and rawness, all while encapsulating an unexpected allure. The composition pulsates with a fierce energy that both challenges and captivates, drawing listeners into its intricate layers.
Re:Visions unleashes a torrent of aggression and ferocity in the instrumentation, yet somehow manages to weave in a thread of beauty that is both striking and haunting. This arrangement creates a compelling atmosphere, inviting the listener to explore the depths of emotion embedded within the music.
In just two tracks that span a mere eight minutes, the composition reveals a remarkable solidity, both musically and instrumentally. The production is polished to perfection, enhancing the auditory magic and delivering a rich, immersive sound experience. Once again, Stefania‘s vocal prowess showcases a fruit of art deliveries, that blends two contrasting styles. On one side, she unleashes fierce and guttural death growls, while on the other, her clean, melodic singing enchants the listener. This dynamic interplay between her diverse vocal techniques infuses the performance with depth and emotion, creating an unforgettable experience. And let’s not forget about the rest of the band members and their devilmanship to the music and instrumental composition; Massimo Boffa on guitars, Luca Nicolucci on drums, and Stefano Tatasciore on bass are the heartbeat of the band, propelling the music forward while ensuring that every composition remains tight and well-organized.
Ghosts Of Past and Present, takes the listener on an exhilarating journey through sound, captivating the listener at every twist and turn. Mind Control fuses progressive and experimental death metal, guaranteed to thrill enthusiasts of the genre. Each of the two tracks stands out, contributing its own unique flavour, resulting in a rich and diverse musical adventure that keeps you on your toes.
The album comes to an end with the last song. We want to give a shoutout to Mind Control for letting us review their Ghosts Of Past and Present album. Now, we’re going to wrap it up by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review
The Last Three Sins
Let’s discuss the last three sins of Mind Control and their album, Ghosts Of Past and Present
The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia:
Mind Control has truly produced two remarkable fruits of art pieces, particularly with their rendition of Carol Of the Bells. This version transcends the typical cover, feeling more like an original creation. And send a cold shiver down our backs, as the original is partially dark, but Mind Control‘s version is dark, uplifting, and haunting.
Once again, Mind Control impressed me again, with their heavy, brutal, complex, and progressive sound that feels distinctly theirs. The devilmanship in their music—encompassing lyrics, instrumentation, and vocals—reflects a fruit of art endeavour.
The Sixth Sin, The Artwork:
The artwork, speaks and captures that Christmas feel.
The Seventh Sin, Disrelish:
Nothing to disrelish within the musical spectrum of Mind Control and their album, Ghosts Of Past and Present. Therefore, this concludes Mind Control and their album, Ghosts Of Past and Present review.
Members
Stefania Salladini: growls, screams, and clean vocals
Massimo Boffa: guitars, programming
Luca Nicolucci: drums
Stefano Tatasciore: bass
Track-Listing
01. Carol Of The Bells
02. Re:Visions
