Release
date: February 17th
2017. Label: Svart Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Perish
– Tracklisting
1.Ritual 01:45
2.Rise 12:19
3.Serpent 07:32
4.Hollow 07:49
5.Spectre 06:28
6.Perish 10:19
Band
Members
Ole Rokseth - Guitar/bass &
vocals,
Markus Støle - Drums
Review
Hymn
is a Guitar/Bass and Drums duo who deal in heavy Sludge/Doom riffs. Their debut album Perish offers a simple premise but delivers
on a massive scale. Heavy down-tuned riffs which is what you would
expect from a Sludge duo such as Hymn. Fans of Black Cobra will find
much to enjoy here.
Hymn
deliver their own style of pulsating rhythms The album runs for
around 45 minutes though it feels longer and I mean that as a
compliment. Songs such as Rise, Serpent, Hollow and Perish show that
Hymn are passionate about their craft. Ole's vocals are harsh
throughout but at least you can understand what he's singing or
shouting about. The songs drift from Heavy Rock, Doom, Sludge and
Stoner based atmospherics with ease as these guys ooze deadly
confidence.
Ole and Markus are also members of celebrated Norwegian Sludge/Doom collective – Tombstones. So you can't question their pedigree. Perish is bleak throughout with the duo creating heavy gloomy moments merged against the other sounds they have at their disposal. The atmosphere can be deliberately slow paced at times but that allows Hymn to deliver the music on their own terms. You can hear shades of CONAN style theatrics on some parts of the album and also Tombstones as well.
However
this is Hymn's show and they deliver a bruising encounter of
Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal that will haunt you for days.
Words
by Steve Howe
