Release
date: January 15th 2018. Label: Inverted Grim Mill Recordings.
Format: CD/DD
Khatt
Al-Raml – Tracklisting
1.Geomancer
2.Grief
3.Visions
4.Greed
5.Sacrifice
Members
Guitar / Vocals -
Richard,
Bass - Calum,
Drums - Ruben
Review
I
first became aware of Geomancer a couple years ago when they
supported OHHMS and Conjurer on their joint UK Tour back in August
2016. The guys impressed me a great deal and I was curious to hear
more from the band. Well that day has come as Geomancer will be
releasing their debut album - Khatt Al-Raml.
Their
music is an interesting sound with elements of Doom, Sludge,
Post-Metal, Stoner Metal and Blackened Rock/Metal that all combine to
create a Post-Doom style of music. The band uses a drone style
template to hold everything together.
Opening
track - Geomancer - is a slow-paced and bleakly distorted vision with
the band focusing on heaviness more than melody. The overall sound
has a cold feel with Geomancer playing more doom and gloom riffs with
a blackened sludge groove for added measure. The growl based vocals
are menacing but at least you can understand them. The second half of
the song moves into Psychedelic and Post Rock territory with the band
closing the song off with fast-paced Stoner Metal vibes that show you
there is a lot more to Geomancer's music.
Second
track - Grief is another lengthy opus with the band creating
YOB/Electric Wizard levels of heaviness. The mood is bleak and
sometimes sombre. Though that doesn't allow Geomancer to become
complacent. Far from it. Geomancer build up a steady rhythm of Doom
and Sludge Metal theatrics that has a more post-metallic feel
compared to the other songs on the album. The vocals become more
threatening and perhaps less easier to understand. This is where
Geomancer start to experiment with their sound even more. As this
song and the whole flow of the album expertly moves from extreme
metal to the less harsh ways of Psychedelic Stoner Metal.
Third
track - Visions - is a drone/sludge rock song with different swirling
sounds opening the song. It has a BONG style influence as the band
play an almost never-ending simple drone style riff. The song has
quite a Shamanic feel with the different sound effects adding a layer
of complex Middle Eastern melodies. Visions shows another side to
Geomancer and it's a superbly played song. However it doesn't offer
any great insights into the album and could be classed as filler
compared to the other songs. Within time my opinion on this song will
probably change.
Fourth
track - Greed - returns to the furious psychedelic Doom/Sludge Metal
onslaught with the band playing perhaps some of the heaviest moments
on the album. It's a weirdly addictive sound allowing Geomancer more
creative freedom with the heavy distorted/drone experimental noises
becoming the main focus. The psychedelic sludgy stoner parts make a
welcome appearance as YOB/CONAN style rhythms interact well with the
vocals and the brilliant drumming of Ruben.
The
final track - Sacrifice - is fifteen minutes plus of epic
doom/sludge/stoner/post-whatever spaced out madness. It's quite
trippy and spaced-out compared to the other songs but the familiar
and harsh Sludge/Doom Metal atmospheric sounds remain as Geomancer
finish off with the best song on the album. The vocals from Richard
add a menacing feel and heavier substance to the song.
The
production on Khatt Al-Raml is highly effective as the sound comes at
you from all directions. The music is loud and violently crisp. Some
people may find fault with the vocals and the bands willingness to
experiment with their music. Those could be valid points when you
first listen to the album. After a few listens this album had me
under its hypnotic dark spell. If you want a brutally heavy sonic
experience that dares to be that little bit different. Well Khatt
Al-Raml is the album for you.
Geomancer
may have opened the door to a lasting and rewarding career within the realm
of Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal. A stunning debut album. No question.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks to Geomancer and
Inverted Grim Mill for for the promo. Khatt Al-Raml will be released
on DD via Inverted Grim Mill Recordings from January 15th
2018. CDs will be released at a later date.
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