Release
date: September 22nd 2017. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD
Qaal
Babalon – Tracklisting
Oroch
Faboan
Bahal Gah
Oxex
Members
Ardath - Guitars,
Percussions and Vocals
Ri - Bass, Drones
and Synthesizers
L.C. Chertan - Drums
Review
Italian
Sludge/Drone/Doom Collective Nibiru has never been the easiest band
to listen to. I've been a fan of their music since they released
their debut album way back in 2013. Their mix of heavy droned out
doom noises doesn't appeal to everyone. As their music can be quite
experimental at times. Despite this, the band has built up a very
loyal following within the Sludge/Doom Metal scene over the last few
years.
I've reviewed almost
everything they've released and today is no different. As I will be
trying my best reviewing their new album - Qaal Babalon. This album
is perhaps their most daring and decisive work to date. I'm still
having trouble deciding what the album is actually about and what it
means in the grand scheme of things.
From my first initial listens,
the album is a complex sounding style of droned out doom/sludge and
experimental psychedelic passages. All held together by a loose
structure of disjointed vocals and mind inducing lyrics. The album
has a Sunn O))) style quality around it. Riffs that can last an age
but one that will richly reward you if you have the time and patience
for this kind of music.
Opening track Oroch is
nineteen minutes of heavy sludge/droned out doom with epic moments of
industrial style noise. The song slowly builds upto a standard
momentum before Nibiru deconstruct everything they've created into a
massive vortex of uncomfortable themes and ideas.
Second track - Faboan -
is another warped and nightmarish style of Doom/Sludge metal with
Nibiru on twisted inspired form. The vocals contain the same drive
and delivery as the opening track. Pounding drums delivers an
almighty wall of distorted sound that are matched only by the heavy
frantic doomed out guitars. This song has a more standard sludge/doom
metal based structure. As Nibiru try to play something less
experimental and one that is perhaps their most straight forward
song. It's quite a punishing affair with the music being very
fast-paced and sounding quite ferocious at times.
Third track - Babal Gah
- returns to the complex and experimental vibes of the opening track
with psychedelic tribal noises opening the song. Haunting synths and
sound effects build up the albums unsettling atmosphere before the
gloomy guitars make a welcome appearance. This is seventeen minutes
that perhaps ranks as the best song on the album.
The final track Oxex
carries on the psychedelic experimental with the band returning to
the world they created on their previous albums. Qaal Babalon is a
unique sounding experience that will intrigue and equally frustrate
people in the same measure. Nibiru are not your usual standard band.
I'm accustomed to their style of music. It's taken many hours of
listening to their music and interviewing the band over the years to
fully appreciate what they create with each record they've released
so far.
Technically and
musically speaking, Qaal Babalon is a masterclass of experimental and
extreme metal. Though it doesn't have the same "WOW" factor
as their earlier albums. I still rate this album very highly and I
applaud Nibiru once again for continuing pushing their own musical
identity to new levels of extreme heaviness.
Words by Steve
Howe
Thanks to NeeCee Agency
for the promo. Qaal Babalon will be available to buy on CD/DD via
Argonauta Records from September 22nd 2017.
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