Release
date: Sept 18th 2015. Label: Bleeding Light Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Searching
For Light: Tracklisting
1.Desolate
2.Lying
in Wait
3.Of
Decay
4.Searching
for Light
Band
Members:
Will,
Adam, Sean
Review:
Serial
Hawk finally release their debut album – Searching For Light –
and it’s a glorious heavy slab of Sludge/Stoner/Doom Metal riffs.
The album has 4 tracks and runs for 39 mins altogether. If you dig
bass-driven and down tempo Sludge based grooves then you need to
check this album out as Serial Hawk mean business.
Opening
track – Desolate – is an epic slice of down-tuned riffs with the
band creating a stripped back approach with their music. The band
play primarily at a slow pace with the doom based vibes given time to
breathe as the band add a slight noise rock effect which will appeal
to fans of Kowloon Walled City. There’s no denying Serial Hawk have
got it where it counts. The Riffs. There’s tons of them as the band
fuse different styles together for a true doom and gloom experience.
Second
track – Lying In Wait – is the shortest track on the album but
that doesn’t stop it being one of the exciting tracks on the album.
It’s a noise-rock driven Sludge/Stoner little number with the band
adding layers of psychedelic noise. The vocals are a mixture of clean
based vocals and harsher that are easy to understand whilst creating
a sense of fear at times. It’s a very dark track that gives Serial
Hawk the chance to experiment with their sound. Shades of
Neurosis/ISIS Post-Metal appears towards the end of the
song.
Third
track – Of Decay – is more of the same groove-laden punishment
with the band playing a mixture of slow and fast paced
Sludge/Doom/Stoner riffs. Serial Hawk experiment with their sound
once again, Adding different noises and effects that centres on the
bass heavy down tempo sound that is fast becoming Serial Hawk’s
signature sound.
Fourth
Track – Searching For Light is an epic 18 minute track sees Serial
Hawk creating a true sonic musical odyssey that’s very unforgiving.
The song starts slowly with the band adding different noises against
a cold ambient backdrop. It’s very bleak at times as Serial Hawk
create what can be considered as their first” classic” song.
Parts Sludge, Stoner, Doom and Noise now merged with Ambient rhythms
and nightmarish Drone sounds. The vocals are sparse and when they do
appear, there are very hard to make out at times. That’s no bad
thing as Serial Hawk main focus is creating heavy as hell riffs that
will leave you begging for more.
Searching For Light is Serial Hawk’s defining moment for people to take notice of
their huge potential as this album screams out for your attention. The production is first rate. The atmosphere is bleak, loud, heavy
and very atmospheric. Serial Hawk have created a monster. Miss it and
miss out.
Thanks
to Cat Jones at Southern Cross PR for the promo. Searching For Light
is available to buy from Bleeding Light Records on CD/DD/Vinyl.
Words
by Steve Howe
Links:
