Release
date: October 24th 2016. Label: I Hate Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Eidolon
– Tracklisting
Influence
Of The Magi
The
Enlightenment
Band
Members:
Kyle
Alexander : Vocals, Basses, Sitar, Synth.
Lewis
: Drums, Lights
Review:
ZAUM
made quite an impression when they released their debut album
Oracles. Two years have passed and ZAUM are back with their new
album, Eidolon. ZAUM established themselves as one of the most
exciting Doom/Drone Metal bands to emerge from the scene. Their blend
of Eastern sounds merged with ambient noises and heavy Doom/Drone
Metal sounds made Oracles a standout album.
Now
Eidolon sees the band drift further away from the sounds they created
on Oracles. As the band create a heavier and more droned out affair.
The familiar Eastern based sounds are still there lurking in the
background but ZAUM have decided to focus more on the drone aspect of
their music whilst creating a heavier Doom/Sludge based sound. The
album contains two epic tracks that both run for twenty minutes each.
First
track – Influence Of The Magi - opens with ZAUM exchanging their
Eastern sounds for a more direct Oriental style sound. Vocals appear
at different parts of the song with a mixture of heavy distorted and
clean based vocals. The drone/doom aspect is expertly matched with a
more forgiving highly atmospheric nature than Oracles. It may take a
few listens of the album to fully understand and appreciate the
madness happening around you. The last part of the song sees ZAUM
move into Sludge Metal territory and it’s perhaps the most exciting
part of the album especially with the superb vocals. Though I think
these vocals are from their good friend Mattias Nööjd (formely of
GALVANO and now Firebreather) who apparently makes an appearance on
this record. I could be wrong but the vocals sound very familiar to
Mattias's.
Second
track – The Enlightenment – starts very slowly with a peaceful
and tranquil atmosphere being created before different instruments
and noises are brought in at different times. It’s a quieter affair
compared to the opening track. ZAUM take their time in bringing the
heavy doom/drone based moments to this song. The Enlightenment is the
more calmer and peaceful of the two songs on the album but it still
offers moments of pure heaviness to unsettle you with.
ZAUM
feel that they were influenced by OM and Sleep at times but this
album still sees ZAUM creating their own individual sound. Eidolon is
a very different album to Oracles and it shows that ZAUM are very
much a forward thinking band who are willing to take risks with their
music. Eidolon is an outstanding record and it proves that ZAUM have
the talent and vision to truly standout from the Doom/Drone metal crowd.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Wolf at Sure Shot Worx for the promo. Eidolon will be available to
buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via I Hate Records from October 24th 2016.
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