I used to describe Manikineter as the side project of Carl Kavorkian, but now with the release of this EP, Not As They Do, this makes the third EP released in two years under the new moniker. I don’t know quite know what to call it, but this is the project in the driver’s seat for the present and foreseeable future. What really matters is the music, and Manikineter really establishes a firm identity with Not As They Do.

All three Manikineter releases have been EPs, and I think that’s probably the best way to listen to this style of music. Not because I don’t think Manikineter couldn’t make a full-length album, but these EPs are so intense and aggressive, a collection of five songs seems a lot longer, since it takes so much out of you. I don’t like to call it metal rap, only because of the terrible groups that might come to mind, but Manikineter does find this unique sound between industrial and noise rap production and death metal vocals and guitar/distortion sounds. This is probably the least hip hop project of the three EPs, but there are still a couple of moments when Kavorkian sits back on a beat and drops some rhymes before switching back to the guttural howl of his metal vocals. There’s just a couple of these moments where you get to catch your breath and process the music and lyrics, and then it’s back to this dense, layered, distortion-heavy music that pounds away with uptempo beats that’s meant to confront the senses and push you out of your comfort zone.

Manikineter is not for the faint of heart, but for those willing to take a chance on something more aggressive and confrontational, Not As They Do is well-crafted and certainly different. It won’t be for everybody, but it will reward those that are looking for something outside of the usual fare.