Tuesday 22 May 2018

Aboleth - Benthos (Album Review)


Release date: May 25th 2018. Label: WURMgroup. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Benthos – Tracklisting

1.Wovenloaf 05:26
2.Fork In The Road 04:24
3.No Good
4.Black Box
5.Glass Cutter
6.Sharktown Blues
7.Ode To Plastic
8.Vinny Gets Arrested 03:38
9.The Devil
10.Wytches

Members

Brigitte Roka – Vocals
Collyn McCoy – Baguitarist, Slide Guitar
Boll3t – Drums
Drums on Benthos performed and recorded by Marco Minnemann

Review

Benthos is the new album from Heavy Doomed Out Rockers - Aboleth. Consisting of the following members. The one thing that stands out from the start is the heavy vintage sounding vocals from Brigitte. Brigitte has such a commanding presence that it feels she's been around the Doom Metal scene for years. As Brigitte has a world-weary "seen it all" before attitude and when this is matched against the heavy pounding grooves that Colin and Mario (who recorded the drums for the album) conjure up, all hell break looks.

Opening track - Wovenloaf - opens with a heavy beat that soon allows to the heavy guitars and drums to finally appear. This album has many different sounds that make up its dirty hypnotic groove. "Dirt Metal" is what the PR blurb described Aboleth's music. Now I don't normally take any notice of these blurbs. However, you can actually describe Aboleth as "Dirt Metal". As their music has a heavy amount of sludgy swamp based grooves though merged with Blues Rock, Doom, Psych and Stoner Metal.

Perhaps influenced by ZZ-Top and Royal Thunder at times. Though that doesn't stop Aboleth creating their own distinctive sound that's dynamically powerful and quite soulful at times. Songs such as Fork In The Road, No Good, Black Box, Glass Cutter, Vinny Gets Arrested and Wytches are the other standout songs that leave the biggest impression on you.

The production is first rate is what you would expect with Ulrich Wild involved. Ulrich has worked with acts such as Deftones, Pantera and White Zombie in his now legendary career. Aboleth could have easily buckled under the pressure working with a big name producer but this gives them extra determination to play such a loud and vibrant confident sound.

The lyrics are superbly written with most of the songs having a few cool sing-along choruses along the way. The sound of Benthos is firmly rooted within the sounds of the Classic Rock/Heavy Metal scene and that opens the potential reach of Aboleth's music to be heard by a much wider audience.

The one thing that impresses the most on the album is the undeniable chemistry between band members who recorded the album. The mood can be quite seductive and that's down to Brigitte's powerful and hard rocking vocals. Though the heavy riffs help as well. Benthos is a powerful sounding album and Aboleth are a band you'll be hearing a lot more from in the future.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life PR for the promo. Benthos will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via WURMGroup from May 25th 2018.

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