Release
date: August 5th 2017. Label: Hull Noise Collective. Format: CD/DD
Moonburn
– Tracklisting
1.Skin Job 03:40
2.Lotion Basket
02:58
3.Moonburn 04:08
4.God's Cuntry 03:25
5.Betrayal &
Delusion 03:53
6.Amazonian Woman
(feat. Sam Orr - 1968) 02:51
7.Another Meaning
for Death 05:40
Band
Members On This Album
Phil Wilkinson -
Vocals
Matt Dennett - Bass
Matt Walker - Drums
Pete Cross - Guitar
Mark Wood - Guitar
Sam Orr - Guest Solo
on Amazonian Woman
Review
UK Sludge/Doom Metal Mob -
Battalions - return with their second full length album - Moonburn.
Recorded at Skyhammer Studios which is always a sign of great quality
especially with Chris Fielding on board for this album. The album is
loud, violent and harsh from the start with opening track – Skin
Job - merging pulsating metallic grooves and angry hardcore punk
based vibes with the heavier Doom/Sludge and even Thrash elements
giving the band a well-rounded song. The vocals from Phil are precise
and very direct as he chews his way through hardcore/metal growls
though you can easily understand what he's singing about on each of
the songs.
Second track - Lotion Basket - opens
with a more modern hard rock/stoner sound with the band holding the
aggression back for the first minute or so. The vocals are shouted
towards you with superb confidence as Battalions create groovy and
hard rocking riffs with an addictive edge. The music is played very
fast and the band makes no apologies for doing so. The music can be
very progressive in parts as they include many different elements of
music on certain parts of the album.
Third track - Moonburn - is the
standout track here with the band fusing modern sounding hard rock
vibes with the sludgier and thrashier riffs. The music has a very
cool balance between the more melodic parts and the angrier
sludge/doom/stoner metal sounds. It's good to hear the band play a
less aggressive style of music and focus more on melody.
This album sees Battalions having an
early Kvelertak style sound especially with the melodic parts. This
is still Battalions show and they impress throughout with their
bombastic style of heavy addictive riffs. Fourth track – God's
Cuntry - is another standout track on the album with the song
starting off really slow before moving up a gear when the band plays
heavier noises. The song has a party-like atmosphere. Or an intense
moshpit style rhythm where everyone can lose control when the
fast-paced moments appear.
The final three songs on the album -
Betrayal & Delusion, Amazonian Woman and Another Meaning For
Death - see the band add a Blackened Rock and Roll atmosphere to the
proceedings. Vocals and riffs become slightly more aggressive as the
band only have a few songs to prove once and for all their metal
credentials. I say they have succeeded on every level as Moonburn is
a raging slab of sludge rock fury.
I would have preferred if the album
was on slightly longer as it doesn't even get passed the thirty
minute mark. Other than that minor complaint, Battalions have created
a hugely entertaining and superb debut album for you to listen to.
Words by Steve
Howe
