It has been some time since I delved into the world of opera, but Mortal Prophets’ new album, “HANUSSEN: The Enigmatic Clairvoyant” drew me back in with its captivating appeal. However, let me clarify that this isn’t your typical opera, it’s something different, modern and memorable. John Beckmann, the creator of this album, sets it apart from others by virtue of its amazing instrumentation and imaginative profundity. It’s one that lingers on the mind even as it is dark yet strangely comforting.
The album, named after the mystic Erik Jan Hanussen, unfolds over eight Acts and 11 tracks in total, blending a variety of voices and electronic sounds. This is a highly produced piece that contains great mixing and mastering to bring out the music. There’s something else about it—it’s so heavy and eerie but at the same time makes you feel relaxed.
Of particular note is the piano in Act III. By contrast with its electric background, it involves a beautiful emotional touch that distinguishes itself on this record. The piano resembles more like memory than reality, like something familiar but distant, adding more effect to the entire theme of an album. I’ll be honest and say that this track is my favorite and adds the perfect touch to this album.
Every single act here weaves together plotlines that are both intricate and complex, eliciting a range of different emotions from those who listen to them. This album goes beyond being just about music due to it having been inspired by Hanussen who was once Adolf Hitler’s personal confidante. In other words, by putting down historical context ,the album has done more than just speaking through our ears. For instance Epilogue serves as a reminder for us not to repeat history but learn from the past.
In general, ‘HANUSSEN: The Enigmatic Clairvoyant’ takes credit for being evidence enough how powerful music can convey stories and invoke deep feelings. It’s difficult to categorize this haunting masterpiece which combines elements of both modern and classical to form something else entirely. This is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates gorgeous music along with deep messages. Mortal Prophets have created something special here—an opera that resonates long after the final note.
ABOUT THE BAND:
John Beckmann and his evolving band of genre-bending roustabouts dig deep into America’s primal scream. Beckmann channels an apocalyptic vision fueled by the flames of pre-war blues legends such as Robert Johnson, Blind Willie Johnson, and Charley Patton, which are transmuted via the experimental ethos of German Electronica, groups as diverse as Neu!, Cluster, Harmonia, Eno, Bowie, and Suicide.
Beckmann doesn’t waste any time setting the scene in the opening salvo of his Mortal Prophets debut, Stomp the Devil. As the sky turns black, a sinister rainstorm slides across the horizon, and lightning cuts through its inky canvas like Death’s scythe — a not-so-subtle warning to step away from your speakers or succumb to Beckmann’s raw, ominous sound. Hammering that point home is a haunting character that may or may not be rooted in reality: a “born again carnival barker – repentant preacher” that starts by delivering a warning to “all the demons in hell,” as if he alone can drive away from the darkness. Or at the very least, all the apocalyptic thunder rattles the windows around us and makes this whole thing feel like a tent revival that’s gone straight off the rails.
The Mortal Prophets takes that template into an alternate universe ruled by fractured riffs, laser-guided synth lines, and the sort of songs you want to hear when it’s the last call and the night refuses to end. Judging by the songs that Beckmann already has waiting in the wings, it’s just the beginning.
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