Metalcatto
At MER, we don’t have a policy against instrumental Metal—in fact, most of us would probably agree that it wasn’t the vocals that first made us fall in love with this weird genre. Steegmoord is an instrumental project that avoids both the shred-heavy and Djent-obsessed ends of the spectrum, and for me, that alone warrants a bit of attention. Sure, the artwork for Mandatory might look suspiciously similar to that of Redemptor, but if this album is even half as good as Arthaneum, I’d consider myself briefly satisfied with life.
Mandatory is the kind of album you want playing during a run or gym session to feel empowered and unstoppable (a fantasy, yes, but isn’t that the whole point?). Steegmoord knows how to keep listeners engaged without descending into a self-indulgent technical wank fest. That’s a rare achievement in instrumental metal. These are actual songs with structure, dynamics, and movement. While there are moments of calm, it never veers into the overly chilled-out territory of a band like Vipassi. This is still grounded in heavy riffs meant to make your head bang.
What stood out the most for me was the production—it’s not overly polished, yet it fits the music perfectly. The writing also deserves credit; despite lacking vocals, the album maintains enough variation and unpredictability to keep things fresh. That already places it above much of the instrumental metal I receive, which can often be more tedious than a full-length cricket match (yes, that’s the point—no one finishes those). Both diehards and casual listeners should find something to enjoy in Mandatory.
That said, there are a few moments where a fierce growl or guttural scream could have made certain sections hit harder. It’s always a challenge for instrumental metal to avoid feeling too serene, and while that’s not a major issue here, a touch more chaos or melancholy wouldn’t have hurt. Still, that’s probably just me missing my dose of vocal grit. All things considered, Steegmoord delivers what it promises.
Give Mandatory a spin if you’re in the mood for instrumental, Proggy, and almost Stoner Metal that doesn’t put you to sleep or send you down a psychedelic rabbit hole. It walks the line between extreme metal and accessible groove, making it a surprisingly good intro for your sensitive friend who still thinks Dave Mustaine is too harsh as a vocalist. (Seriously, why are you friends with them?)
Label: MADN Productions
Release date: 22 August, 2025
Website: https://steegmoord.bandcamp.com/
Country: Belgium
Score: 3.5/5.0
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