It's been a very, very long time since I last trusted a music magazine with the task of introducing me to good quality music - why? Well anyone who is involved in this dirty thing called the 'music industry' knows that advertising and media coverage is more important than music itself and the only way of ensuring a decent career for a band. Now, I don't know about you, but most of the 'leading' bands of our music would not have been where they stand had it not been for extensive marketing by the supporting records labels. I understand that this is a weird way of introducing an album to you, but this is the only way I can explain why a band which consists of four brilliant musicians such as Mekong Delta never managed to become anything more than a cult outfit.

I always admired the unique way in which Ralph Hubert's (bass & guitar) outfit managed to make their highly complicated and daring compositions accessible to a wider audience. The band's trademark style, combining hyperfast technical thrash riffs and clear high pitched vocals with classical arrangements, sounds like a possible source of influence for a number of bands such as Rage and Therion, yet I have never come across a band that has managed to reach the same standards set by the German quartet.

Albums like "The Music Of Erich Zann" and "Dances Of Death (And Other Walking Shadows)” have always been considered as essential purchases for any fan of good quality music and I am sure that those of you who are lucky enough to own these classics and who are still interested in this great band will soon realise why Mekong Delta's thirteenth 'brainchild' "Lurking Fear" deserves to be treated with a similar respect to the above-mentioned releases.

Officially speaking, "Lurking Fear" is considered to be a ten track release but I hope that you agree with me when I say that this album conveys such a strong vibe throughout that you could easily treat it as one great piece of music. The opening track "Society In Dissolution" kicks off in a typical Mekong Delta manner, allowing a main thrashy riff to become the main musical platform on which the remaining musicians build some of the most technically daring and innovative ideas. Leo Szpigiel's high pitch vocals blend in perfectly with an array of hyperfast guitar riffs thus adding a certain epic feel in songs like "Purification" and "Immortal Hate" - both of which are in a strange way reminiscent of Fates Warning ("Awaken The Guardian" era), only in a slightly faster and more complicated way.

The band's high levels of musicianship will inspire even the most demanding amongst you and are particularly audible in songs such as my personal favourite "Defenders Of The Faith" - a composition which combines powerful heavy riffs with Flamenco guitar tunes and brilliant vocal melodies and the closing theme "Allegro" where one can hear a virtuoso competition between the bass and the electric guitar. Classical sounding arrangements have always been an important part of the band's character, so do not miss listening to the hyperfast instrumental "Allegro Furioso" or the dark/atmospheric "Moderato" - both of which brought shivers to my body.

I really don't know what is the driving force behind this phenomenon that answers to the name Mekong Delta but I fail to see how it can be anything different than just the need to create good quality music. Having turned their backs on the music industry for one more time, these amazing musicians have created yet another masterpiece - one which will definitely feature on my list for the best albums of the year and one which I suggest you get your hands on the soonest possible. Simply amazing!

*****

Review by John Stefanis