Release
date: May 25th
2016. Label: Ozium Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Olde
One Ascending – Tracklisting
1.Olde
One 08:06
2.The
Serpent's Alive 08:18
3.Acid
Pilgrim 06:54
4.Shroomblade
08:33
5.King
Vokonis Plague 08:51
6.Hazmat
the Ashen Rider 07:43
Band
Members:
Simon
Ohlsson - Guitar, Vocals
Emil
Larsson - Drums
Jonte
Johansson - Bass, Backing Vocals
Review:
It
seems just a few breaths away since I last reviewed another new and
upcoming band risen from the ashes of a molten tomb wherein the
remnants of a great now defunct band once dwelled. This time it’s
Borås, Sweden’s own fuzz doom metal purveyors in Vokonis that like
a weedstruck Phoenix has awoken from a former existence as Creedsmen
Arise. The fire sure burns strong within this newly dawned feathery
beast as Vokonis in all aspects surpass anything previously done by
the Creedsmen.
The
thing that hits you straight in the face upon engaging with King
Vokonis and his army of Olde Ones is a fist of immensely dense guitar
tones, heavy as hell bass lines and slow pounding drums feeling equal
in scale as to be crushed by mountains. Not to mention the vocals
that are deep-bellowed, not overly aggressive, yet suitable for any
battle-march. This is the perfect match for this type of stoner and
doom music as they add just the right amount of energy and tension
balancing out the heavy riffs and rhythms.
However,
what sets this album apart and really expands the gap down to all the
other bands trying to sound Sleep-like while re-enacting dull
dopesmoker interpretations, is the riffs. I mean the RIFFS. They are
the centrepiece of Olde One Ascending, the pivotal vortex everything
circles around. It’s the riffs that Simon and the other guys bring
to sacrifice on this communion that makes this such an enjoyable
listen and so insanely good. Olde One Ascending contains by far the
meanest and at the same time catchiest riffs, I have heard within
this genre this year. Well, does this mean they top outings from
bands such as Spelljammer and Monolord? You damn straight they do,
and they do so while driving them to the floor with 6-inch nails.
What
about guitar solos? Did I forget to mention the solos on this album,
oh man, they're out of this world. Oozing with the vilest fuzz, the
solos on here are almost celestial sounding, like as if Simon had
been possessed by some evil-minded creature determined to execute its
diabolic deeds by the neck of his six-stringer. You’ll get it once
you hear it and a prime example in case is the final 3 minutes of
second track ‘The Serpents Alive’.
What
I really love about this album is the fact that you are never in
doubt that this is indeed a power-trio in the truest essence. This
means that all three members contribute equally to the sonic work
laid out in front of you. So while the guitar is soloing, the bass
takes a leading role managing the rhythm section, which is a killer
(sorry) feature that really drives this point home. The bass comes
lucidly through the soundscapes and gets a voice and role of its own.
It's strongest during the short bass solo midway through the
phenomenal ‘Shroomblade’. This jazzy midsection is more than a
worthy tribute to Black Sabbath and is it a young Geezer Butler I
hear.
It
is neigh impossible to point out one track over the others as all do
a perfect job of channelling your inner rifflord to the outmost
perfection. All 6 songs on here are equal in scope, depth, heaviness,
smokiness and they all bang through hazy, fuzzy, metal-incrusted
soundscapes with conviction traversing battlefields of wars between
ancient kingdoms in lost galaxies on a quest for a legendary sword
forged in a bygone area.
I’m
floored, and it’s hard to stay objective when listening to someone
honing the greats in such a cool and comprehensive way. Vokonis excel
in what they do and could prove to be the torch-bearers confirming
that worshipping the riff and paying homage to past masters never
grow old or out of relevance. It is with peace of mind that I can
greet King Vokonis and welcome him as the new heir to the stoner doom
throne, where he surely will sit alongside the other greats in the
metal realm on judgement day at the dusk of 2016. Stellar job guys!
Now,
I don’t know what Ozium Records are up to next, but picking up the
scabs from former great constellations thus far has proven to be more
than a worthy formula for success. Both Bad Acid and Vokonis rocks on
randomly repeat at my domicile shaking the ground and bringing down
the walls. Whatever is next on the plate at the Malmö based label,
I’m pretty sure it’s bound to be equally interesting and of the
highest calibre.
Words
by Niels Fuzz Bartholdy
Thanks
to Vokonis and Ozium Records for the promo. Olde One Ascending is
available to buy digitally now. CD will be released on 25th May whilst the Vinyl will be available to buy
from June/July 2016 via Ozium Records.
