Release
date: May
04th
2018. Label: Ritual
Productions.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Thought
And Existence
– Tracklisting
The
Golden Fields
Tlön
Uqbar Orbis Tertius
Members
David
Terry - Bass
Mike
Smith - Drums
Mike
Vest - Guitars
Review
Legendary Doom/Drone
collective - BONG - return with their new album - Thought and
Existence. Their eighth album overall and their first studio album in
three years. This album sees BONG carry on their trademark Drone/Doom
sound with their style of sonic experimentation being varied
throughout the album. We are only treated to two songs on the album
but at least they both run past the seventeen mark.
The first track - The
Golden Fields - opens slowly with a drone/ambient based sound before David's voice appears that helps creates an eerie
atmosphere. BONG's familiar heavy drone guitars create slow epic
sounds that have different levels of tone and aggression. The
drumming is what really stands out. They may sound quiet at first but
as the song progresses as Mike Smith makes you feel part of the
whole gloomy experience.
The song has its fair
share of psychedelic rock sounds though it's buried under a heavy
avalanche of distorted drone/doom riffs. This album has quite a
claustrophobic feel as BONG slowly change their style of music
without your realising at first. We see a different side to BONG on
the second half of the song. As they venture into heavy progressive
rock and add more vocals to the mix.
The second and final
song - Tlön Uqbar Orbis Tertius - sees BONG carry on with their
sonic experimentation with an even more expansive sound. As BONG dive
right in by playing their standard Doom/Drone sound. The Psychedelic
sounding elements are more prominent here as BONG focuses more on
playing a daring meditative style of Doom/Drone Metal. I don't know
what more else I can say about this album.
Apart from BONG have
created another wonderful sounding progressive doom metal odyssey.
This is an album that works on so many different levels as BONG
creates music for mind, body and soul. Thought and Existence is
perhaps one of the best sounding albums of its kind being released
this year. A classic sounding album from a band that are at the top
of their game.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Cris at Ritual Productions for the promo. Thought And Existence
will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ritual Productions from
May 04th 2018.
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