After reviewing last year’s EP, I was more than happy to take a listen to the new album and I’m glad to say it doesn’t disappoint. As it’s taken 25 years since Mordred last released an album, they decided not to rush it out last year and it’s good thing, as it definitely sounds very polished.
I have no idea why, but something about Scott Holderby’s cadence on opening track “Demonic #7” reminds me a little of “Just Another Victim” from ‘Judgement Night’, but with far more energy as Jeff Gomes gives his drums a severe beating while James Sanguinetti and Danny White’s guitars thrash their way to the final lead trade-offs.
As the guitars go from manically quick to rather laid back, Scott’s vocals do the same on “Malignancy”, where it approaches crooning before Aaron “DJ Pause” Vaughn throws in some scratching on the turntables.
The heavy pounding on the drums on “I Am Charlie” complements Art Liboon’s popping bass as the guitars play a groove that allows the vocals to flick between their gruff delivery, clean and rapping.
“Dragging For Bodies” has a heavy guitar groove littered with scratching that is played over the rather mellow drum fills as DJ Pause’s keyboards fill out the sound almost giving the song a ballad-like feel, especially during the lead solos.
Title track, “The Dark Parade”, is full of booming drums and trumpets which are rather apt considering, but I guess it’s Scott’s showman delivery of his lyrics that bring to mind images of circus parades with psychotic clowns.
The mid-tempo funky track “All Eyes On The Prize” is full of bouncy drum fills as the guitar riffs add to the feel as the fingers sliding down the strings add to the turntable scratches.
I enjoyed the way the vocals are a little faster than everything else on “Dented Lives”, giving them that extra sense of anguish in search of being saved, but in vain.
Final track “Smash Goes The Bottle” sounds like it could be played in any bar, but with a hint of Thin Lizzy to give it an authentic drunken brawl anthemic vibe.
Fun album and very enjoyable to boot.
(8/10 Marco Gaminara)
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