Release
date: July 1st 2017. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD
Sullen
Sanctuary – Tracklisting
1.Mourning Scorn
07:31
2.Bound To Abandon
05:15
3.Convergence 05:59
4.Epoch 04:46
5.Precelestial
Sojourn 03:27
6.The Infected 05:37
7.Warning High 05:23
8.Illusory Solution
06:22
Band
Members:
Tom Clarke - Vocals
Ross Duffy - Guitar
JJ Harrison - Bass
Dan Walsh - Guitar
Stephen Todd - Drums
Review
Causticgod's debut
album – Sullen Sanctuary – is finally upon us and it's a FUCKING
MONSTER. There's no other way to describe this album. Sullen
Sanctuary is built upon a foundation of Doom, Sludge, Stoner and
classic Heavy Metal riffs. The band are made up of members from bands
such as Astralnaut, Two Tales of Woe, Bad Boat and War Iron. So that
should tell you that this band knows how to create a loud, mean and
heavy riff.
Causticgod style of
music owes much to the classic sounds of 80s Heavy Metal but the band
inject a more modern sounding Doom/Sludge/Stoner based sound. Opening
track – Mourning Scorn – is a pissed off and mean sounding track
with the band having a cool DIY approach to their music. The vocals
from Tom take some time to get used to. Though it's great to hear
vocals such as this. As Tom's vocals are raw and straight from the
heart. The riffs have a slight DOWN and NOLA based influence to them.
This song is a great indication on what to expect on the rest of the
album.
Second track – Bound
To Abandon – has a more classic rock feel compared to the opening
track and it shows Causticgod's versatility as a band. The sound can
be quite “tinny” at times but you can see and feel what the band
are trying to create here. With Traditional/Heavy Metal riffs with
against modern sounding riffs. Tom's vocals are centre stage yet
again and he makes his presence known with his OTT performance.
Though that's one of
the album's strengths as Tom doesn't hold back at all on this album.
You can feel and hear every note that he sings. Some people maybe put
off by Tom's vocals and the slightly underwhelming production that
appears on the later stages of the album. Sullen Sanctuary is still a
genuinely exciting album that has a lot to offer for the more
traditional heavy metal fan.
Other great songs to
check out are: Convergence, Epoch, The Infected and Illusory
Solution. All showing Causticgod are a highly talented band indeed.
This album may fly under the radar within the Doom/Sludge/Stoner
Metal community and that would be a shame. As Sullen Sanctuary
deserves to find a bigger audience as possible.
Excellent and Highly
Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
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