Mental Cruelty is setting out on a new epic journey.
In 2026, continuing their collaboration with Century Media, Marvin Kessler (guitar), Nahuel Lozano (guitar), Lukas Nicolai (vocals), and Jonathan Koltun (drums, Dryhten) present their fifth album, Echoes of a Forlorn Land.
Weltennacht begins with a touch of gentleness that intoxicating, reassuring, yet slightly melancholic quality that naturally draws you in, but this fades away as distortion and heaviness strike, bringing out the deathcore roots even before Fenrir takes over to literally plunge into violence, allowing blast beats and screams to take over and permanently darken the sound. Although we’re treated to a few moments of respite – such as when the wolf howls – the band delivers a gripping, devastating, and above all intense sound that mercilessly tramples us, while giving each instrument plenty of freedom, just as on Blood for Blood, which begins with pagan roots before charging forward with its jagged and majestic approach. We hear both the band’s recent influences and its furious core, which also comes through on the theatrical The Serpent of Midgard and its imposing orchestrations that perfectly complement the rhythm section and its waves of aggression. I’m surprised by the softness of the choruses, but I appreciate all the more the return to brutality and that metallic snare drum; then, with Helheim and its tones – at first cheerful, then suddenly so brutal – the album continues on its path, once again offering a few touches of clean vocals, but the final reassures us of the band’s potential. We move on at full speed with Draugar, which also lets the contrast unfold while emphasizing the beautiful central mosh part, then returns with one final surge before Raise the Raven Banner weaves an introduction made up of traditional instruments to create a truly ritualistic atmosphere before unleashing its rage and full violence. A few more ethereal and dissonant passages are to be expected, but the track is long and cleverly alternates between different intensities, allowing us to experience them in full force before a visceral finale that leads into Cry of Batariel, which once again offers a rather different tone, almost dreamlike, thanks to its samples. Note the rather cheerful tones, which also create a contrast with the lyrics, but Frost tones things down and develops massive yet relatively heavy riffs, almost revealing an intimate side, at least before the eruption that will definitively set the tone for the rest of the track, followed by the silence that leads into Dämmerbruch, offering us a true respite this time. The piano has always had a reputation for emotional depth and palpable melancholy, and it demonstrates this once again before the storm breaks, and Ride of the Valkyries sweeps us into the murderous frenzy that is this final track – both the longest and most varied – which fully embraces orchestral elements to transform into a true Nordic narrative, alternating between raw power, ferocity, and even a few gentler passages to bring the album to a close.
There’s no denying it: Mental Cruelty has mastered its Nordic universe, and even if some tracks on Echoes of a Forlorn Land may be jarring, all are masterfully executed from start to finish. Whether you love violence, orchestral arrangements, or intoxicating melodies, you’ll find something to enjoy.
90/100
