Monday 17 July 2017

Doom Side Of The Moon - Doom Side Of The Moon (Album Review)


Release date: August 4th 2017. Label: Independent. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

PLEASE BE AWARE: Due to licensing issues, CD and LP sales of this album are limited to North America ONLY.

Doom Side Of The Moon – Tracklisting

Speak To Me
Breathe
On The Run
Time
Great Gig in the Sky
Money
Us and Them
Any Colour You Like
Brain Damage
Eclipse

Band Members And Participants:

Doom Side of the Moon, the resulting band and album features Kyle Shutt and a host of celebrated musicians including his bandmates fromThe Sword, bassist Bryan Richie and drummer Santiago Vela III, vocalist Alex Marrero (Brownout / Brown Sabbath), saxophonist Jason Frey (Black Joe Lewis / Hard Proof), and keyboardist Joe Cornetti (Croy & The Boys). Engineered and mixed by Stuart Sikes (White Stripes, Rocket From The Crypt)

Review

Greetings all,

I will be the first to admit, I'm not the biggest Pink Floyd fan. However, the legendary British Psych Rock group has legions of them. And there is no denying that they have sold quite a few copies and have scores of fans of their landmark 1973 opus Dark Side of the Moon. Going a step further, although loved by even the most casual of fans, Dark Side isn't even my favorite Floyd album. (The Wall, Animals, Wish You Were Here, Syd Barrett's solo stuff, and David Gilmour's first solo album all would finish higher.)

So, I have no idea why I was drawn to Doom Side of the Moon. Doom Side is a Heavy Metal tribute helmed by The Sword guitarist Kyle Shutt. After a listen or two, I was surprised by how many of these songs I knew by heart. Which I will admit is a bit of a testament to Floyd. Doom Side even had me track down my own copy of Dark Side just to try and compare and listen for the differences.

Doom Side is a tribute in the truest sense. It is a straight up re-recording of Dark Side. The songs are in the exact same order and the two are damn near the same length. There are no major surprises on Doom Side. It is a heart felt tribute. You can hear that the guys playing the songs love and know them by heart.

The term "Doom" applies very loosely. This is not a Doom metal recreation. It truly sounds like The Sword performing Dark Side, which is pretty freaking sweet. The fresh life given to these songs sounds amazing. Kyle Shutt sounds like a cross between Roger Waters and David Gilmour. The band is tight and sounds excellent. The production is killer, but not over the top.

To touch on the songs, it is almost impossible not to compare them to the originals. Speak to Me is transformed into a wash of feedback and gives way to Breathe, which sounds almost similar to the original. On the Run carries the bombastic feel of the original. Time gets a complete Stoner/Doom rock makeover. Great Gig in the Sky carries the same interlude feel of the original.

Next up is Money, the most recognizable track from the original and Doom Side kicks up the Rock element on this track. The opening sounds of cash registers and clinking change is gone. Perhaps lost on today's generation, but the absolutely driving sound isn't lost on anyone listening. Us and Them also carries the vibe of the original, including the big grand ending. Any Colour You Like is chock full of wicked, heavy guitar riffage. Brain Damage also keeps the vibe of the original, and the album closes with the same big, bombastic ending on Eclipse.

As I noted earlier, I was really amazed at how many of the songs I knew word for word and note for note. If you love Floyd, Dark Side, or the Sword you will undoubtedly love Doom Side of the Moon. It is well worth giving a chance to, and you may find yourself amazed at how these songs resonate. Maybe, I am a bigger fan of Dark Side than I thought. I give credit to Kyle and his band for waking me up. Perhaps, I will dig up a copy of Wizard of Oz, kick back and see how Doom Side syncs up....

- Todd S

Instagram @alltheghoststhathauntyou


Words by Todd Stealey


Thanks to Carl at Action PR for the promo. Doom Side Of The Moon will be released on CD/DD/Vinyl from August 4th 2017. CD/Vinyl only being released in USA due to licensing issues.
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