Release
date: April 1st
2016. Label: Black Bow Records. Format: DD/Vinyl
Reign
Of The Unblinking Eye – Tracklisting
Buckfast
For Breakfast
Losing
Things
The
Unblinking Eye
Eframs
Hands
Pints
of Bodies
Creeks
Gigantic
Triumph
of Fortitudo
The
Block
R.I.P
Band
Members:
Tommy - Bass
Dave
Archer - Drums
Stu
Taylor -Guitars
Nat
Gavin - Vocals
Review:
Anyone
who is a fan or riffs and heavy music in general is probably a fan of
Black Bow Records. Over the last couple of years the label run by Jon
Davis (Head Riff Wizard at Conan in case you were unsure) has
steadily released a series of impressive and acclaimed releases,
including Bast, Undersmile and Slomatics.
The
Bendal Interlude are the next name you can add to that list now.
Their
first full length "Reign Of The Unblinking Eye" was
recorded under the watchful gaze of Chris Fielding at Skyhammer and
mastered by James Plotkin, and as such the band have produced a
record certainly worth the wait/weight. (You know.... Cos it's heavy)
The
fantastically named "Buckfast For Breakfast" starts of with
a sample that probably sounds all too familiar to a lot of us "I
go to work, I punch a clock, I do the same thing day in and day out"
then riffs. Riffs For Breakfast. The song takes of at pace on a riff
with a massive groove and some seriously unpleasant vocals. It brings
to mind early Iron Monkey but with a sense of urgency.
More
of the same massive riffs, expressive drumming and those fucking
filthy vocals follow on "Losing Things" and "The
Unblinking Eye" It's like thrash had a fight with sludge. I'm
not sure who the winner was though....
"Eframs
Hands" is up next featuring some impressive dual guitars, blast
beasts and by now what is becoming that trade mark groove. It's a
ferociously heavy record, that doesn't let up and unlike so many of
the bands doing the rounds at the minute (and this is absolutely not
a criticism) keeps up a fairly frantic pace throughout.
"Pint
Of Bodies" for me the standout track on the record (helped again
by another ruddy brilliant name) starts of kinda like some black
metal blast beats but being played by a hardcore band, before
seamlessly merging into some delicious low tuned sludge and the first
slower (but not slow) moment on the album.
"R.I.P"
is the album closer and the longest track on the record and starts
gently with a bluesy almost lazy riff, but around the minute mark the
energy levels go up a notch and we're off into full sludge swagger
being dragged towards the records conclusion.
A
band that has been around for sometime now and a band that everywhere
we go, people always speak about with high regard, but a band that
perhaps isn't yet at the forefront of people minds when talking about
great UK heavy bands.
Well,
"Reign Of The Unblinking Eye" could and should be just the
record to change that.....
Available
from 1st of April via Black Bow Records.
Pre
order your copy here
http://blackbowrecords.bigcartel.com/product/the-bendal-interlude-the-reign-of-the-unblinking-eye
Words
by Simon Ross Williams
Thanks
to Dewar and Black Bow Records for the promo. Reign Of The Unblinking
Eye will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Black Bow Records from
April 1st 2016.
Links:
