Mental Cavity – Neuro Siege (Album Review)

Mental Cavity - Neuro Siege

Mental Cavity’s second album, Neuro Siege is an angry, fast, heavy music dream. Hailing from the nation’s capital, it’s easy to see where that anger might arise from. A four-piece, created by three of the members of the excellent I Exist and their friend Rohan Todd, creates a self-described mixture of crusty hardcore and sludge all wrapped up in a speedy death metal package.

Recorded over the course of a week in a house in rural NSW by Mike Deslandes, this album packs a hefty punch. Powerful vocals by both Aaron and Alex are complemented by frantic blasts from the kit, with a few tasty riffs and solos sprinkled in wherever they may.

That’s not to say that Neuro Siege is a mess of ideas, just the opposite. These seasoned musicians create a chaotic blast from the get-go, with Infiltrators that slams into the title track, Neuro Siege, a blast from start to finish, and energy that doesn’t fade. Well, not until you hit the sludge and doom driven midpoint of Writhe and Spoiled, that serve as what counts as a breather in this album, before getting right back to the assault with Artificial Integration. The track puts you back into the hardcore groove, It’s a certain live hit with its circlepit inspiring riff and crushing breakdowns. Eradicate & Replace brings a little groove into the mix with a great chorus leading into album closer, Terra Immundus (The Unclean for all the non-latin speakers) that comes all too soon with a great riff that will rattle around your head for a long time after the album finishes.

All in all, an absolute banger of an album, by some seasoned musicians that somehow blends all the elements from above into some dense, crusty, heavy tunes that anyone who enjoys the heavier side of life should listen too.

Release Year: 2019
Label: Brilliant Emperor
Category: Album
Country: Australia

Reviewed by Tom Patman