Release
date: October 14th
2016. Label: Stone Groove Records. Format: DD
Stratus
Nimbus – S/T – Tracklisting
1.Equality
03:57
2.Can't
Break Free 04:39
3.A
Walk in the Dark 05:06
4.Galaxy
Girl 03:56
5.You
Take 04:52
6.Rain
Jam 04:34
Personnel:
Doug
Dowd: drums; vocals (tracks 1 & 6)
Dan
Dowd: rhythm guitar (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6); lead guitar (tracks
1 & 4)
Tom
Goddard: lead guitar (tracks 2 & 5)
Fabrizio
Monni: rhythm guitar (track 3)
Colin
Ragan: lead guitar (tracks 3 & 6)
Tom
Davies: bass (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5 & 6)
Luke
"Canada" Shelley: bass (track 4)
Review:
Here
we have a brooding style of Grunge style Doom/Stoner Rock. Their
self-titled debut album is a confident record that allows the band to
create their own sound with the emphasis on murky psychedelia and a
slight hint of distortion.
Opening
track – Equality – is a strong song to open the album with as
Stratus Nimbus hit you with huge grunge based riffs with Doug's
vocals adding a sombre doom and gloom effect. The album has a DIY
Punk vibe which allows the other elements of the bands music to
create a rebellious kind of Doom/Stoner based sound.
Second
track – Can't Break Free – is a more restrained and heavier
psychedelic doom offering with the vocals having a more restrained
feel to them. The song has quite a drone based quality to it but it's
perhaps the standout track on the album. It has a classic 90s grunge
vibe with a modern sounding stoner/doom groove.
The
band are made up core members, brothers Doug and Dan Dowd. Most of
the songs on the album have quite a different feel to them which is
understandable with different people playing on the songs.
Third
track – A Walk In The Dark – sees the band firmly venturing in
the Psychedelic Doom world with world-weary vocals. This has an Uncle
Acid & The Deadbeats feel to it but shouldn't distract you from
the excellent lyrics the band have written here.
This
is quite a dark and complex album and that's down to the overall
lyrical content held within the album. I applaud the band for writing
gloomy based lyrics as the tone of the album can feel uneven at times
but the I can't fault the lyrics.
The
remaining 3 tracks – Galaxy Girl, You Girl and Rain Jam – sees
Stratus Nimbus change the albums direction yet again and it's a
glorious sound. Galaxy Girl is perhaps the strongest of the final 3
tracks as it has a cool 60s style influence especially with the
vocals.
The
production of the album whilst good for the most part, still includes
a few moments where the sounds very raw. Too raw. Though the band
will improve with future releases. Hopefully on the next album the
band will decide on a permanent line-up. As I stated before the tone
of the album is uneven at times and that's possibly down to having
different people playing on the songs.
Apart
from those minor complaints, Stratus Nimbus debut album shows a band
with huge potential. It's not the most perfect record but it does
offer some heavy distorted far-out moments to lose yourself in.
Words
by Steve Howe
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