Manos Six And The Muddy Devil // Swamp Suicide // Album Review

This acoustic duo are made up of Manos Six and The Muddy Devil (Stamos Abatis) previously of Skull & Dawn. The band play a combination of Dark-Americana, Death-Country, Neo-Folk and Black Metal, utilising the banjo and acoustic bass as the centrepiece for the musical elements on display using them to transport you to the dark Deep South whilst using Lucifer as the guiding light through the darkness

Comprising of 10 tracks spanning approximately 32 minutes and following being welcomed to the album by the sound of the Suicide Swamp with the crickets before the banjo bursts into life on ‘The Devil Will Take Me By The Hand’ and the eerie darkness continues with atmospheric stripped back ‘Old Time Religion.’

By the time this third track has ended you will be consumed by the dark shroud but thoroughly enjoying the Blackened Country sound that is not an all too familiar genre but is a whole lot of fun.

The duo switch up paces and angles to allow you to be under the hypnotic spell as you trudge through the swampy lands picking your steps wisely to the soundtrack of banjos, bass and a discreet beat of the drum.

Whilst the music is stripped back, it almost dials up the atmosphere and the result is an album that doesn’t miss anything. I guess the nearest band to what the majority of people could compare to is Me And That Man but where that band might not go fully into the darkness, Manos Six + the Muddy Devil do.

You should be aware that by pressing play, you are taking your first steps down a dark and sombre road, but do not fear, the hope provided by Lucifer provides some hope. It is rare for me to listen to an album that I can genuinely leave on repeat and not get tired of it, but Swamp Suicide is one of those. It is a great alternative to those people who like their music dark but occasionally want a change from Black Metal or like some diversity to their darkness.

This is yet another stunning release on Fucking Your Creation Records and I can’t help but be impressed by this album every time I press play.

Ed Ford

Swamp Suicide will be released June 25^th 2022 via Fucking Your Creation Records.

Tracklist

Swamp Suicide (Music by Manos Six) Manos Six: Banjo
The Devil will take me by the hand (Music and Lyrics by Manos Six) Manos Six: Lead Vocals, Banjo, Snare Drum Stamos Abatis: Acoustic Bass
Old Time Religion Gospel Song – Traditional First Presentation at the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1873 Additional Lyrics by Manos Six Manos Six: Lead Vocals, Banjo, Percussion Stamos Abatis: Acoustic Bass Jack Lumberjack: Music Saw Gospel vocals by: Ioanna Noir Zacharopoulou (Glitter Grotesque), Isis Rita Anzel , Tatiana Michailidou
Evil is the Law Drones by Manos Six and the Mudy Devil Words by Brother Justin Crowe, Minister of the Methodist Church and Avatar of Darkness Performed by Manos Six
Lucifer (Feat. George Emmanuel) Music and Lyrics by Kim Larsen (:Of the Wand and the Moon:) The Phrase “Lucifer’s the Light of the World” is a tribute to King Dude’s “Lucifer is the Light of the World”. Manos Six: Lead Vocals, Banjo Stamos Abatis: Acoustic Bass George Emmanuel: Electric Guitar
Fire Music and Lyrics by Manos Six Manos Six: Lead Vocals, Distorted Banjo, Percussion Stamos Abatis: Distorted Acoustic Bass
Willow Tree (Feat. George Emmanuel & Mickey Pantelous) Music and Lyrics by Manos Six Manos Six: Lead Vocals, Banjo Stamos Abatis: Acoustic Bass George Emmanuel: Acoustic Slide Guitar Mickey Pantelous: Harmonica
Stay Away Music and Lyrics by Manos Six Manos Six: Lead Vocals, Banjo George Emmanuel: Electric Guitar
Hell is the Law Drones by Manos Six and the Muddy Devil Voice by Charles Lawson, Pastor of the Temple Baptist Church, Knoxville, TNManos Six: Banjo
Ain’t no Grave Music and Lyrics Traditional Additional Lyrics by Manos Six Manos Six: Lead Vocals, Banjo Stamos Abatis: Acoustic Bass George Emmanuel: Backing Vocals DD Dynamite: Backing Vocals