Wednesday 19 September 2018

Vessel Of Light - Woodshed (Album Review)


Release date: September 21st 2018. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Woodshed – Tracklisting

Woodshed
Part of My Plan
A Love so True
Son of Man
Watching the Fire
Beyond the Cellar Door
One Way Out
Man's Sin
Day of Rest
End It All
Pray for a Cure

Members

Dan Lorenzo
Nathan Opposition

Review

Vessel Of Light is the new band made up of members from bands such as Ancient Vvisdom and Hades. The band released their debut EP last year and it was a mixture of gloomy Doom/Stoner Metal with elements of other music that left you wanting more.

Now the band are back with their debut full length album – Woodshed – and like their debut EP, the album is being released by Argonauta Records. What really stands out on Woodshed is how very different this record sounds compared to Nathan and Dan’s other bands though still offering listeners some familiar riffs along the way.

Woodshed is a very gloomy and progressive record and one that never runs away from that fact. Sometimes I feel Woodshed is highly influenced by Alice In Chain at times especially on the first few tracks – Woodshed, Part Of My Plan and A Love So True. As the album has a gloomy grunge/alt-rock sound that legendary band is known for. Though Vessel Of Light are very much in charge of their own destiny on this album.

The music is loud and very precise with Nathan providing the majority of the vocals. Nathan is also on drumming duties with Dan providing the heavy Doom/Stoner riffs on Guitars and Bass. Sometimes Vessel Of Light feel they have more members within their ranks as they have a huge sound throughout the album.

Woodshed can be deliberately slow-paced at times but this allows the band to create a highly atmospheric Doom Metal environment that allows the music and lyrics to grow naturally. Woodshed also gives Nathan the perfect opportunity to release a fully-fledged Hard Rock album. As most of his work with Ancient Vvisdom has it’s fair share of semi-acoustic moments. Not on Vessel Of Light. This is pure demonic Rock And Roll with quite an emotional edge.

Other great songs on the album include: Watching The Fire, Beyond The Cellar Door, One Way Out (which features Nathan’s brother Michael providing the wah-wah guitar solo), Day Of Rest and Pray For A Cure. These tracks show Vessel Of Light at their most raw and honest with brooding music to match.

The production on Woodshed is first-rate and is one of the best things about the album. Vessel Of Light impressed me a great deal on their debut EP but they’ve exceeded themselves here. As Woodshed is a major step-up in quality compared to their debut EP.

Overall, Woodshed is a dark, complex and gloomy experience that will cast a dark hypnotic spell over you. Vessel Of Light are the real deal and deserve your full attention.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo. Woodshed will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records from September 21st 2018.

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