Release
date: October 13th 2017. Label: Suicide Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Screen
– Tracklisting
1.FIRE FORETOLD
2.EMERALD EYES
3.THE ICE LORD
4.RELEASE THE LAVA
Members
Mattias Nööjd
Kyle Pitcher
Fredrik Käll
Review
From the ashes of sadly
defunct Sludge/Doom Metal overlords - GALVANO - comes Firebreather. A
new Sludge/Doom Metal trio who fuse the familiar sounds of Galvano
but match it with a more ferocious intensity of High On Fire. Their
debut S/T album is something to behold, admire and riff-worship from
afar. As Firebreather are more primal than Galvano.
The riffs have a
doomier feel and the vocals from Mattias take influence from Matt
Pike at times. Firebreather excel throughout on this fantastic
sounding album. As they offer four prime cuts of pure doom/sludge
metal riffs that will have you grinning and head-banging in
agreement.
Opening track - Fire
Foretold - creates a gloomy atmosphere with fast-paced High On Fire
inspired riffs but still creating their own sound. The psychedelic
elements of Firebreather’s music allow them to experiment more
freely with their music and see the band become a force of nature to
be reckoned with.
Second track - Emerald
Eyes - opens with a long drawn out distorted riff before the bass
heavy sounds moves the atmosphere to a more exciting level. The
vocals from Mattias may
sound harsh and menacing at times but at least you can fully
understand them. The music becomes less angry than the opening song
but still undeniably heavy. With the song running for around eight
minutes, Firebreather have a lot of time to fill. Firebreather do
this by playing epic psychedelic doom sounds that soon give way to
heavier sludge grooves. You may start to feel and hear the friendlier
Stoner Metal riffs that Firebreather add at different parts of the
album. The music interplay between all members of the band is what
makes the band work exceptionally well. These guys sound and feel
they've been playing together for years and this feels like album
number five or six and not their debut release.
Third track - The Ice
Lord - is strictly a warped doom metal affair with the heavy riffs
driving the demented mood along to its natural conclusion. The whole
sound of the album becomes more volatile and fragmented with
Firebreather coming into their own identity and leaving the High On
Fire and Galvano comparisons finally behind. The music is more primal
and offers a more doom-centric on the second half stages of the
album.
The final song -
Release The Lava - is the standout track and centrepiece of the
album. As it runs for twelve minutes and sees Firebreather adapt a
more progressive style to their music. The song can be too laid-back
and slow-paced at times but Firebreather soon correct that with their
intense blend of Psychedelic Doom and Sludge Metal driving the song
to an exciting conclusion.
Firebreather's debut
album maybe too short, clocking in less than thirty three minutes.
Though it's what Firebreather do with those thirty three minutes is
what counts the most. As Firebreather have created a brilliantly
heavy and exciting debut album that will leave fans wanting more. An
outstanding debut album that showcases another great band from the
Swedish Doom/Sludge Metal scene.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Richard at Sheltered Life PR for the promo. Firebreather S/T debut
album will be available to buy via Suicide Records on CD/DD/Vinyl
from October 13th 2017.
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