Live review from Love / Death / Metal:
Upside Down [Intro]
Locked Noose
Two-Faced
Pale Tongue [cover]
[Interlude]
Unanswered [cover]
Sanctified Tongues
Mindrot bring a huge crew for their headline set at Love / Death / Metal. A short, whispery atmospheric intro sets the room humming before the floor drops out. Vocalist Mayr Khan appears to a deathly bellow amid heavy, slow rhythms, as a pit opens and bodies surge.
The band is a tight three‑piece, with Aaron Mordeno (formerly of Parallel Horizons) on guitar and backing vocals and Justin Orcino on drums. Locked Noose, an original still under a working title, leans into slow, heavy breakdowns, Khan pacing the stage theatrically.
Two‑Faced, a newer single, pushes things into a more furious gear. The rhythm has a mid‑tempo two‑step feel, while Khan’s Randy Blythe-esque vocal tone takes on a classic groove‑metal bark. Mordeno’s spring-loaded riffing ignites absolute chaos on the floor.
The covers slot in naturally without overshadowing the band’s original compositions. The gallop of Darko’s Pale Tongue keeps momentum high, while Suicide Silence’s Unanswered brings a rawer edge in its wild screams and frantic drumming, Khan looming over the room, roaring “where is your gun?” with his hand in a claw shape.
After the band thanks Chris B and The Underground, unreleased original Sanctified Tongues closes the set: pig squeals lead into insane buffeting, with Khan’s voice lost in the dirge. A single ringing note meshes with an evil “reeeeee!” before descending into more riffs. The song is built on a foundation of hardcore punk but is embellished with death metal theatrics. There’s an encore chant, but the band chooses to do a group photo instead.
The sound mix was frustratingly conservative and muddy throughout, flattening moments that could have hit harder. But even through that restraint, Mindrot’s intent is clear: set the atmosphere, rile people up with riffs and rage-filled lyrics, and leave them wanting more.
-El Jay
