Release
date: March 11th
2017 – CD/DD. Vinyl – Summer 2017. Label: Twin Earth Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Black
Magic – Tracklisting
Enemy
Nothing To Fear
Black Magic
Review
Alastor
debut album - Black Magic is one built on pure Black Sabbath
amplifier worship with modern touches of Psych, Doom and Stoner
Metal. There are only three songs on the album with the shortest
being on for eight minutes or so. The other two run for eleven and
fourteen minutes each.
Opening
track - Enemy - is the first epic song as Alastor blend heavy
sounding riffs played at a heavy slow pace. The vocals have a classic
feel to them with them almost being drowned out by the heavy stoner
sounds. The EP has a creepy and occult rock vibe running throughout.
It's a sound we've heard multiple times before already but this is
still an exciting album for Alastor to impress the listener with.
Alastor move into heavier psychedelic sounds with the band focusing
primarily on the instrumental side of their music. This allows
Alastor opt for a more riff-driven Stoner Metal atmosphere. It's
still a very gloomy song but the band does play a very cool and epic
riff towards the end of the song.
Second
track - Nothing To Fear - sees Alastor add a certain SLEEP style
sonic projectory to their music with the guitars having a more
distorted tone. The vocals drift in and out at different times for
perhaps the standout song on the album. The riffs are played at a
cool pace with the different guitars working side by side for a
superb sounding experience. The psychedelic vibe feels influenced by
the earlier sounds of Uncle Acid with the vocals having a certain
experimental approach.
The
final track - Black Magic - is a fourteen minute epic where Alastor
goes all out in creating heavy doom/stoner sounds. This is perhaps
the loudest song on the record and one that people will enjoy the
most. It's more of the same classic Black Sabbath inspired riffs
first heard on the opening song. The lead vocalist shows his
impressive vocal range as he reaches some very high notes.
The
lyrics add a superb creepy and occult rock touch with the band
finally starting to create huge noises of their own. Black Magic is a
superbly produced with it having a classic vintage feel to it.
Alastor should be proud of this album as it ticks all the right
boxes for all true Doom/Stoner Metal fans out there.
The
real challenge for the band is to release a worthy follow-up and
carry on the great work they've created with Black Magic. Thanks
should also go to Twin Earth Records for releasing this record as
they've been on a great run recently in releasing quality albums such
as this. Long may that continue.
Words
by Steve Howe
Black
Magic will be available to buy via Twin Earth Records on CD/DD from
March 11th
2017. With the Vinyl being released Summer 2017.
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