Wednesday 10 August 2016

Komatsu - Recipe For Murder One (Album Review)


Release date: September 23rd 2016. Label: Argonauta Records (CD) / Lighttown Fidelity (Vinyl). Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Recipe For Murder One – Tracklisting

01. Scavenger
02. The Sea is Calm Today
03. So How's About Billy?
04. Lockdown (featuring Nick Oliveri)
05. A Dish Best Served Cold
06. WTF?!
07. Recipe for Murder One
08. There Must Be Something in Your Water
09. The Long Way Home
10. Against All Odds
11. Breathe

Band Members:

Mo Truijens: Guitar + Lead vocals
Mathijs Bodt: Guitar + vocals
Martijn Mansvelders: Bass + vocals
Joris Lindner: Drums + vocals

Review:

Dutch Stoner Rock/Metallers – Komatsu make a welcome return with their new album, Recipe For Murder One. Newly signed to Argonauta Records, the album sees Komatsu with a more determined drive compared to their debut album. This album is a style of Noise, Sludge, Stoner and Doom riffs with the mood staying highly confident through out.

Opening track – Scavenger – is a song built on strong riffs, intelligent lyrics and a cracking vocal performance from lead singer – Mo. It matches the familiar Komatsu style of fast-paced Sludge/Stoner riffs but this time with an almost noise rock atmosphere. It’s more Sludge Rock than Sludge Metal but it still allows Komatsu to create heavy moments of noise throughout the album.

Second track – The Sea Is Calm Today – is perhaps the loudest song I’ve heard Komatsu create so far. It’s a heavy and psychedelic affair with the vocals once again having quite a dramatic flair to them. The song has quite a heavy post-rock/post-metal vibe towards the end of the song which I didn’t expect at all. As Komatsu blend quiet post-rock sounds with the heavier sludge/post-metal riffs. Though the band keep things firmly grounded in Stoner Rock reality with an exciting finish.

Third track – So How’s About Billy – sees Komatsu opt for a more traditional Stoner/Sludge Rock sound where it’s pure rock and roll fury from start to finish. Maybe the song could have used with some of the experimentation found on the opening two tracks but that is all soon forgotten about when an epic riff appears out of nowhere. It took me a few listens to warm up to this track but I feel it’s one of the best tracks on the album and perhaps one of the best tracks Komatsu have written in a long time.

Fourth Track – Lockdown – is another highlight of the album as the band have called upon Desert/Stoner Rock legend – Nick Olivieri to provide vocal duties and the results are you might expect. Explosive from beginning to end. Komatsu create the perfect musical backdrop for Nick to vent his anger upon to the listener. The riffs have a strong Kyuss influence but that shouldn’t distract you from enjoying this track. Another standout track on the album.

Fifth track – A Dish Best Served Cold – as you can tell from the title is an angrier song with Komatsu creating slower paced sounds but angry vocals and lyrics mean there’s a lot of excitement to be found. It’s very psychedelic at times but it holds your attention before the heavy fast paced sounds appear.

The remaining six tracks on the second half of the album follow the same path as the first half. Komatsu do experiment with their sound on certain songs though the atmosphere firmly remains in the Sludge/Stoner Rock world. The production is first-rate as Komatsu have violent and manic energy coming at you from every corner. The instrumental work is perhaps the strongest part of the albums with the vocals not too far behind. Other great tracks to chell out are: Recipe For Murder One, The Long Way Home and Breather.

Argonauta Records have been on a roll lately signing top-notch bands but this maybe my fave record they’ve released this year. Though we do have albums from SUMA and Varego to look forward to. Until then I’ll stand by that statement.

Komatsu have released a stunning new album that not only builds on past sounds but also forges an exciting future for the band. Recipe For Murder One is a must have album. Plain and Simple.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Barbara at NeeCee Agency for the promo. Recipe For Murder One will be available to buy via Argonauta Records (CD) / Lighttown Fidelity(Vinyl) from September 23rd 2016.

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