Release
date: April 13th
2018. Label: Sludgelord
Records. Format: CD/DD/Cassette
A
Low Winter’s Sun
– Tracklisting
1.Of
Gods and Goats
2.The
Great Attractor
3.A
Gnawing Worry
4.Uncomfortable
Silence
5.Parallels
of a Knife Fight
6.Fire
Twin
Members
Jamie:
Vocals/Electronics
Ross:
Guitar/Vocals
Scott:
Guitar
Bina:
Drums
Review
Atmospheric
Doom/Sludge Metallers Heron debut album A Low Winter's Sun is a
haunting experience of heavy sludge metal with elements of Doom Metal
and cinematic Post-Metal sounds. The album takes influence from YOB,
Neurosis and THOU. So be prepared for different styles of heavy
atmospheric doom/sludge metal on the individual songs held on the
album.
Opening
track - Of Gods And Goats - is a bleak and multi-layered affair that
perfectly balances the Death/Doom Metal aspect of the band’s sound
with the more uplifting Sludge/Post-metal soundscapes. The vocals
from Jamie are bleak and have a distinctive feel of their own. The
vocals are a mixture of death and hardcore based growls. They're
quite easy to understand. Well I found them very easy to understand
despite my advancing years of listening to Hard Rock/Metal.
Heron
have a superb ability from changing the whole feel and dynamic of the
album by adding simple elements Psychedelic and Post-Rock/Post-Metal
to their music. One moment the whole mood of the album can be very
bleak and then Heron include a subtle Post-Rock sound that elevates
their music to more a more uplifting mood. It's only for a short
period of time but it proves that Heron can create uplifting music
when the time calls for it.
Second
track - The Great Attractor - is the perfect combination of Neurosis
angry Post-Metal vibes and THOU doomy/sludge style theatrics. However
Heron manage still manage to create their own highly anthemic sound.
The intense and fast-paced drumming from Bina is one the albums
highlights and they put in an excellent performance on this song.
Maybe the song does feel too long a times but Heron still manage to
hold your attention throughout the song. The instrumental work is
superb and quite intense. Adding vocal samples is a very good touch
indeed. As this song becomes more depressing as the song comes to a
satisfying conclusion.
Third
track - A Gnawing Worry - is more of a brief interlude with Heron
opening with a piano driven sound before playing a violent outburst
of Sludge/Doom Metal riffs that I didn't expect. As normally these
styles of songs just linger on to the end without ever going
anywhere. So KUDOS to Heron for surprising me with this song.
The
final three songs - Fire Twin, Parallels Of A Knife Fight and
Uncomfortable Silence - sees Heron tighten their grip further on the
bleak and brutal Doom/Sludge Metal soundscapes. As the band weave
psychedelic doom and gloom moments with the harsher Sludge/Post-Metal
riffs. The standout track from the entire album has to be
Uncomfortable Silence. As it's anything but silent. Heron don't know
how to remain silent and the album is a testament to that fact.
The
production on this album is constantly engaging and threatening from
the start. The whole feel is brutally violent and Heron thrive on the
whole sound of the album. A Low Winter's Sun demands time and
patience to understand the full bleak message of it all. Heron have
created one of the year’s best sounding and most exciting
Doom/Sludge Metal albums.
Heron
are a band on the rise. Definitely keep an eye on these guys over the
next few years. Heron have the potential for greatness.
Words
by Steve Howe
A Low Winter's Sun will be available to buy via Sludgelord Records from April 13th 2018.
A Low Winter's Sun will be available to buy via Sludgelord Records from April 13th 2018.
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