A blended mixture of blues, country and folk
Adam Nergal Darksi, frontman of extreme metal band Behemoth, entertains and engages listeners on their sophomore album from his side project Me And That Man called New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol. 1. With no shortages of featured artists, from Corey Taylor to Johanna Sadonis to Sivert Høyem and so much more. Out of the 11 tracks, “Męstwo” is the only one that does not have a featured artist on it and it also happens to be the only song in Polish as opposed to English, showing Darski’s routes.
Like the previous album (Songs of Love and Death), this project showcases the genres of country, blues and folk. Anyone just tuning into this musician/band will be surprised by the mix of genres present and each song will cause them to pause. Returning fans will be blown away by the composition of the album, an accumulation of the talent present. Each track offers different strengths and elements that will have people entranced and nodding along.
“Burning Churches” with Mat McNerney featured, has an Irish drinking song vibe especially with the vocals going from one to two, creating a camaraderie feel. Right after, “By The River” has a commanding presence and Ihsahn’s (a Norwegian composer, multiinstrumentalist and vocalist) contribution makes this song a stand out. While the vocals and lyrics already made this track a hit, the guitar takes it to the next level; the last minute of the song is a drawn-out guitar solo with rising riffs and goosebump-inducing notes.
As previously mentioned, “Męstwo” is the only song without a guest artist, but that by no means detracts from its ability to add to this composition. It lets listeners get to experience Darski’s talent on its own and it stands out for the fact that the song is in Polish.
In the second half of New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol. 1, listeners hear more of the country influence coming through on tracks such as “Surrender” and “Deep Down South.” “Deep Down South” has banjo strumming heard at the beginning which separates it from “Confessions,” the final track which also has a country flair to it. But the strumming on the final track is acoustic as opposed to a banjo but is equally as strong.
Overall, Me And That Man have outdone themselves with this old-time outlaw country, dark, gothic folk and untamed blues composition. Fans of any or all of these genres will find something to love, from the saxophone notes weaved on the rocking opener (“Run With The Devil”) to the agony-filled vocals of “Confessions.” Anyone who appreciates music will appreciate what Me And That Man have created in New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol. 1.
Honestly, each song could be dissected and written in detail about. This is certainly an album people will be listening to over and over again.
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