Release
date: January 29th
2017. Label: Doomsayer
Records.
Format: DD
Elder
Cloak – Tracklisting
1.More
Weight 04:01
2.Elder
Cloak 02:59
3.Light
Cast No Shadow 05:02
4.Clairvoyant
03:34
5.Mirror
Priest 03:01
6.Coven
Circle 06:20
Band
Members
Beeg - Vocals
Dano - Guitar/Vocals
Kyle - Drums
Colin - Guitar
Review
Tar
Hag new album - Elder Cloak - is a fine slice of heavy
Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal carnage with some nasty Southern Metal
grooves added to give Elder Cloak extra bite in the volume
department. We've heard this kind of music a million times before but
when it's played with such confidence it's very hard to ignore.
Opening
track - More Weight - is an almost lo-fi and distorted take on the
doom and gloom atmosphere that Tar Hag expertly create. The riffs are
played loud, thick and fast with the heavy almost death based growls.
Though you can easily understand them which are always a good thing.
The psychedelic vibes allows Tar Hag to play heavy melodic Stoner
Rock towards the end of the song.
Second
track - Elder Cloak - opens with a NOLA inspired Swamp driven riff
that is played at a slow to mid pace. Once the vocals kick in, Tar
Hag return to their heavier doomier ways but the psych stoner element
rules supreme. The vocals have a sense of despairing dread to them
and that only adds to the overall enjoyment of the album.
Third
track - Light Cast No Shadow - sees the band create perhaps the
standout track on the album. As it's an exciting song with the band
creating heavy demented Doom/Sludge riffs and the overall atmosphere
being bogged down by a ferocious Southern NOLA sound.
The
other three songs on the album - Clairvoyant, Mirror Priest and Coven
Circle - raise the stakes even higher with more great examples of
loud music to lose yourself in. Coven Circle is the standout track of
the three. As Tar Hag play not so subtle riffs with more dark doomish
tales to chill your bones with.
The
production is excellent though the
lyrics could have done with more work in places. Tar Hag could
have included a couple more songs on the album. As I wanted the album
to last longer. It’s all over within twenty five minutes or so.
The performance of lead vocalist - Beeg and the fantastic music the
band creates is what really saves the day.
All in all, Elder Cloak is a superb album if you're a fan of all things Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal.
All in all, Elder Cloak is a superb album if you're a fan of all things Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal.
Words
by Steve Howe
