Release
date: September 22nd 2017. Label: Argonauta Records. Format:
CD/DD/Vinyl
Temporal
Rifts – Tracklisting
1.Doors of Dark
Matter Pt 1: Barriers
2.Envoy of Murder
3.Gula, a Bitter
Embrace
4.Children Of The
Red Sea
5.Caverns Alive!
Members
Danne Palm, bass &
vox
Christoffer Norén,
guitar & vox
Johan Küchler,
drums & vox
Review
Science Fiction plays a
big part within Cities Of Mars debut full length album - Temporal
Rifts. As the album has a heavy progressive spaced out sound running
throughout the entire album. They created a similar atmosphere and
sound on their excellent debut EP – Celestial Mistress - released
last year. Now the band have returned with their eagerly awaited
debut album.
With the band being
from Sweden, a huge anticipation rests on their shoulders before a
note is played from the album. As when Doom/Stoner Metal fans here
the magic words "Doom/Stoner Metal band from Sweden" - they
automatically expect and assume the band will create a huge sounding
album. Mainly down to the fact that Sweden has provided the
Doom/Stoner Metal world an abundance of top quality bands over the
years.
I'm happy to report
that Cities Of Mars are no different as Temporal Rifts is a highly
accomplished and fantastic sounding debut album. The tone and
atmosphere of the album maybe influenced by Science Fiction but the
overall sound and atmosphere of the album rests firmly within the
worlds of Doom/Stoner Metal.
Opening track - Doors
Of Dark Matter Pt One: Barriers - is a spaced out psychedelic affair
with the Doom/Stoner Metal riffs having quite a very DIY and raw
sound. To the band's credit they make this work, as their music has a
much stripped back approach. The music has quite a progressive feel
that flits between Mastodon (Crack The Skye) sounds and even Monster
Magnet at times.
Second track - Envoy Of
Murder - sees Cities Of Mars create a more bass-heavy affair that
adds an element of dark psychedelic fuzz to the proceedings of the
album. The vocals are loud and brash that interacts with the music
surprisingly well. The lyrics can be very bleak at times which
surprised me in a way. The song has a very cool sounding psychedelic
interlude with proggy cosmic riffs leaving you to concentrate on the
music and perhaps even lose yourself in the moment.
Third track - Gula, A
Bitter Embrace - is where the album moves into more subtle and
progressive stoner metal territory. As Cities Of Mars create a
densely plotted song that works on different levels. On one level,
the band create epic Mastodon-sounding progressive riffs that sound
super-fresh and original on their own terms. Another level is the
lyrics, as the band conjure up an intriguing concept and story within
the timeframe of the song.
The final two songs
Children Of The Red Sea and Caverns Alive! offer almost seventeen
minutes of heavy progressive cosmic doomed out riffs. It's perhaps
with these two songs where Cities Of Mars create the most exciting
and heaviest moments placed on the album. Some people may complain
the album is too short running at a brisk thirty five minutes. Though
I personally feel that Cities Of Mars made the right decision with
the "less is more" approach. As the album is packed with
original themes and ideas that you may miss first time round.
Temporal Rifts is a
thrilling and exciting debut full length album. If you're a fan of
Mastodon and BEASTWARS then be prepared for a colossal and huge
sounding album.
Words by Steve
Howe
Thanks to NeeCee Agency
for the promo. Cities Of Mars will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl
via Argonauta Records from Sept 22nd 2017.
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