Release
date: July
06th
2018. Label: Ritual
Productions.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Ancient
Lights – S/T – Tracklisting
1.Decaying
Lotus
2.Temple
Ghosts
3.War
of Attrition
4.Orichalcum
Eater
5.Asakai
Dasa
6.Against
Nature
7.Miasmaculatum
8.Fallow
Year
9.Vessel
of Inevitability
10.Slow
Breath
Members
Tim
Bertilsson – drums
Adam
Richardson – bass, guitar, vocals & lyrics
Ben
Carr – guitar
Review
Ancient
Lights is made up of members from the following bands Ramesses, 5ive
and Switchblade Ancient Lights takes influence from those bands but
still sounds remarkably different as well. Ancient Lights are more
kindred spirits to bands such as BONG and SunnO))). As the band play
a blend of Psychedelic Rock, Doom, Sludge, Ambient, Drone and Post
Rock sounds.
Their
debut self-titled album has its fair share of heavy and epic
progressive sounds buried within the epic seventy minute plus running
time. The album isn't going to be for everyone. As it's not an easy
album to listen to. Some parts can be quite hard and challenging to
fully sit through. However the album is never boring and it rewards
the listener with an almost out-of-body trans-dimensional experience
that leaves you wanting more on certain songs.
Opening
song - Decaying Lotus - is a twelve minute opus that sees Ancient
Lights creating a heavy droned out Ambient/Post-Doom atmosphere with
the chant based vocals. I would normally say that this is a bold and
brave move to open the album with. As the song is quite experimental
and has a lot of different parts to it. However this is how the rest
of the album sounds like. If you're not moved by the first opening
track then the rest of the album won't impress you at all. Though I
most soldier on with this album review and I'm a huge fan of what
Ancient Lights have created on this album.
The
myriad of different sounds and ambient textures make this album what
it is. Songs such as: Temple Ghosts, War of Attrition, Asakai Dasa,
Against Nature, Follow Year and Slow Breath are the standout songs on
the album. With Ancient Lights creating the heaviest and most far-out
riffs on the album. Sure the album could have benefited from a couple
of the shorter songs being left out for pacing purposes. The
instrumental work is simply superb and intense from Ancient Lights
which isn't surprising with the hugely talented members involved.
The
album does have its fair share of moments of Ancient Lights playing
standard Doom Rock/Metal riffs compared to the usual Droned Out Metal
parts that make up the majority of the album. The vocals do take some
time getting fully used to. As they are primarily chant based. Though
they are superbly sung throughout the entire album.
The
production is simply marvellous with the album being consistently
loud and dynamic from the start. Overall, Ancient Lights have
released a thought provoking sonic experience that will leaves you
wanting more.
Hopefully
this will be the first of many great albums from Ancient Lights and
not just a one-off collaboration.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Ritual
Productions for the promo. Ancient Lights debut self-titled album will
be available to
buy on CD/DD/Vinyl
via Ritual Productions from July 06th
2018.
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