I was very amazed and had a big admiration when I listened to their 1988 album
"The Music of Erich Zahn". The complexity of the songs, the technical
skills, the use of classical music and this all in songs with good melodies. In
my memory they were one of the first bands that implemented classical music in
metal. With "The Principle of Doubt" and following albums they elaborated
on that path and after their sabatical they returned in 2007 with "Lurking Fear"
and continued their unique style. In the beginning the brain child of Ralf
Hubert was a kind of mystery because the real names of the musicians were kept a
secret. Meanwhile we know who are part of the band and today there is a totally
different line-up, with Ralf as an exception.
On the new album you can expect the style you want to hear, what still
makes the band Mekong Delta unique and different in the world called metal.
Again all the known elements are there (although there are not many classical
parts) and like on the previous album "Wanderer on the Edge of Time" Martin
LeMar is responsable for the vocals. His voice sticks perfectly to the music,
but like on other albums there are several instrumental tracks again. The songs
on the new album need some time and more listening sessions to figure out, but
after that the beauty of the music will be revealed. Certainly, the surprise from
their first albums is gone and I don't think they will ever top those, but that
has nothing to do with the songwriting.
The new album shows that Mekong Delta is still an exclusive band (project) that
because of their complexity and variety perhaps never will be appreciated by the
majority of the metal fans, but for those of you, who already know what they
stand for and rated the band at its true value from starters, this is again an
album you have to own.
