Release
date: March 03rd 2017. Label: Hibernacula
Records. Format: CD/DD
Slumbersong
– Tracklisting
1 - Praise And
Hatred
2 - Righteous
3 - The Weight Of
Gold
4 - Ghosts
5 - Bloodhound
6 - The House
7 - Old Tom
8 - Shimmer
9 - Slumbersong
Band
Members
Tom Coles - Drums
Charlie Dowzell - Guitars/Vocals
Tim Kazer - Guitars/Vocals
Kynan Scott - Bass Guitars
Review
Sail's
debut album - Slumbersong - is one that works on many different
levels. A progressive journey into the familiar sounds of
Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal but still showcasing a band with their own
vision. Influenced by bands such as Yob, Torche, Mastodon and
Pallbearer. Very diverse indeed. The
one thing that I admire most about this album is how it sounds. It's
not overly produced and in some cases it still holds a DIY raw feel.
It allows the music to flow naturally.
Opening track - Praise And
Hatred - starts with a progressive sludge groove with pounding drums
and guitars. The tone and atmosphere of the song never stays the same
as Sail change directions multiple times. This sets the structure for
the whole album as Sail change their sound for the majority of the
album.
It's
a brave decision as the album could have easily become bogged down
under the albums many different ideas. Songs such as: Righteous, The
Weight Of Gold, Ghosts, and Shimmer is where Sail impress the most.
The songwriting is immense with intelligent lyrics matching the
powerful progressive sludge/stoner grooves. The vocals on Ghosts
could have done with more work. Lead vocalist Charlie and Tim both put in very good
performances indeed. There are a few moments where the vocals are
drowned out by the heavier riffs.
You
can tell that Sail have been studying the American Progressive
Sludge/Stoner Metal scene religiously. Though that's not an issue as
Sail have delivered an album that will appeal to the wider
Sludge/Stoner Metal community. One of the main highlights of the
album is how Sail fuse ambient psychedelic/post-rock noises with
heavier progressive riffs.
I
know that some people will disagree with Sail being called
Sludge/Stoner Metal. Sure, they maybe more melodic and focus more on
the vocals. That doesn’t stop Sail being creating a huge amount of
heavy Sludge/Stoner based riffs. Nor does it stop Slumbersong being a
must have album.
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks to Dewar PR for
the promo. Slumbersong will be available to buy via Hibernacula
Records on CD/DD from March 3rd 2017.
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