Saturday 16 December 2017

Throneless - Cycles (Album Review)


Release date: March 23rd 2018. Label: Black Bow Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Cycles - Tracklisting

1.Born in Vain 09:43
2.Cycles 09:12
3.Senseless 06:29
4.Oracle 14:05

Members

Johan Burman - drums
Johan Sundén - guitar
Patrik Sundberg - bass

Review

Holy shit. This is heavy as fuck and no messing. It makes perfect sense being signed to Black Bow Records as well, as to quickly summarise the bands sound, it has elements of Conan. And Slomatics. With the occasional vocal nod to "Come My Fanatics" era Wizard. But all set in space.

Four ridiculously heavy tracks, with only one song being under 9 minutes (and the album closer is nearly quarter of an hour just on its own)

First track "Born In Vain" really sets out what Throneless are about. Soaring vocals, hypnotic drumming and riffs heavier than a post Klitschko, Tyson Fury.

For me though it's with the second track "Cycle's" that the record really starts to come into its on.

A quietly played lone guitar (also sounding like it's from space) playing a calm picked refrain, as the drums join and the bass enters the fray for a minute or two before the track starts in earnest, with layers of fuzz being added to the main riff.

Third and my personal favourite track on the album "Senseless" is the shortest of the four songs on offer, and as such is probably the most aggressive and introduces almost an element of spite in to the song writing. Which I love.

Fourth and final track "Oracle" slows proceedings back down as Throneless lurch their way of fourteen minutes of absolutely punishing doom, as the track tails of at the end leaving ears wringing in its wake.

It took me a listen or two to probably fully appreciate this record the first time I heard it. The first thing you'll notice is just how heavy the whole things is (I think I've mentioned before this is quite the heavy album yeah?) but after that, some of the less obvious subtleties and talented songwriting start to move more to the fore, making this one of the most enjoyable and surprising records I've had the pleasure of hearing this year.

Words by Simon Williams

Thanks to Curtis at Dewar PR for the promo. Cycles will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Black Bow Records from March 23rd 2018.

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