Release
date: March 1st
2016. Label: Self Released. Format: DD
Sarama
– S/T – Tracklisting
1.Breathe
08:41
2.The
Tower 06:26
Band
Members
Angela
Shatswell – Guitar
Robert
Pennington – Guitar/Vocals
Phil
Merwin – Drums
Damian
Harris – Bass/Additional Vocals (Breathe)
Review:
From
the depths of Oregon’s murkiest swamp crawls the mighty Sarama,
offering their intoxicating self-titled release bubbling with
sinister harmony and muddy, fuzzed-out goodness!
The
aptly named ‘Breathe’ respires menacingly as we are plunged into
the vast, dark husk of an inanimate behemoth. We descend rapidly into
the seemingly bottomless chasm of this intense song as a foul draft
reveals that our host is stirring. Fans of Isis and Neurosis will
savour the simmering, provocative build of unstrained guitars and
stodgy percussion as they swell to a climax of sonorous, humid
grooves. Tasteful, understated lead worms its way through the
wreathing mass of sound whilst direful bass groans delectably in the
depths, beckoning us to cut our tethers and free-fall deep into the
phantasmagorical world that Sarama have created.
Part
two, ‘The Tower’ utilises an array of emotive sonic textures to
produce a landscape awash with volcanic activity and a noxious
atmosphere. Subtle, percussive guitars ricochet around a barren vale
before a monsoon of tearing riffs carry a piercing, primal war cry to
terraform to the land and resurrect its monstrous inhabitants with a
vibrant concoction of concentrated doom. Frenzied lead work conducts
the reanimating life forms in an ayahuasca induced shamanic dance
amidst the tsunami as the ground cracks and mountains crumble.
Fans
of Conan, Cough and YOB will find plenty to enjoy in this small but
wholesome offering. The two songs on offer here are a self-contained microverse of abstract
chaos and beauty. It is an epic adventure condensed into 15 minutes
of suspense and brimming energy, demonstrated with the expressive
poise of a high-wire tightrope walker. I was a little surprised that
the diverse dynamic scope of the record didn’t bleed into its
accompanying artwork, but that scarcely takes away from the quality
of such a visceral piece of music.
I
will be keeping a keen eye on Sarama and look forward to future
releases. I would be psyched to see what they put together on a full
length release!
Words
by ThisHairyGuy
