Mandator is Back!

Mandator is back! If you need to find out who they are before you can get excited, The Crypt/Dark Symphonies will offer up some insight with re-releases of the band’s short catalogue. This
Netherlands-based speed/thrash outfit originally formed under the name Mysto Dust. It wasn’t until after their recently re-issued 1986 debut, “The Rules Have Been Disturbed”, that they changed their name to Mandator. This switch in names creates some confusion and debate over what the band’s proper debut album was, but in any event, Mandator issued “Initial Velocity” in 1988. “Initial Velocity” features the same line-up as “The Rules Have Been Disturbed”, with the addition of Hette Bonnema handling bass duties; which had previously been shared by the guitarists. “Initial Velocity” possesses a raw, distinctively European thrash sound.

Peter Meijering’s vocals do not indicate years of extensive vocal training either, but enhance
Mandator’s European flavor nicely. Meijering proves he can both shout or sing when the song
calls for it. His falsetto screams, such as the one just before “Evil Dead” ends and the one in the
intro to “Power of the Law”, are hard to resist. The lead work of guitarists Luit de Jong and Marcel Verdurmen (also from Altar) is not especially skilled, but their solos still offer much in the
way of both harmony and whammy bar usage. Songs like “Attila” and “Faces of Death” are the kind of aggressive, adrenaline-fueled thrash numbers anybody buying this album would want to hear. However, Mandator offers up a great melodic side as well, as “Jack Boots and Leather Caps” and “Black Rose” prove. Both songs contain interesting clean guitar parts, but will get you banging your head at other times. “Power of the Law” is Hette Bonnema’s finest moment on the
bass; but its fun, lively chorus ends too quickly. You might find yourself wanting to scream along
with it a little longer, but Mandator opted to keep that part short for some reason. The first
minute of “Posers” is an outstandingly crunchy, mid-tempo moment for the quintet. “Initial
Velocity” surprisingly concludes with a solid ballad—albeit one that gets heavier—entitled “I Will
Be Your Last”. Even though Mandator clearly was not going to change the face of metal, their melodic moments saved “Initial Velocity” from being a one-dimensional thrash album. If they had honed their musical chops a bit further, this album could have been even better. However, it is definitely a nice piece to have in your metal collection. The re-issue is scheduled to be released on March 31st and limited to 1000 copies. If you like this album, then be sure to keep an eye on Mandator. Their 1989 album Perfect Progeny can be expected to be re-released in the near future, and who knows what this newly reformed act will deliver to the underground next?
4 out of 5 stars