Release
date: April
27th
2018.
Label: The
Lasting Dose Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Revenant
–
Tracklisting
1.ALTERNA
02:18
2.SECLUSION
06:10
3.SENTINEL
05:16
4.ORDINAND
feat. K. McDonald (ZAUM) 06:53
5.REVENANT
03:36
6.CLOSURE
06:54
Members
Sabine
Oberg - Bass
Jan
Oberg - Drums/Vocals
Review
GRIN
is the new band featuring two members (Jan
and Sabine) of
Earthship. GRIN follow a similar path to Earthship but with a more
doomier
and psychedelic driven sound. Their debut album Revenant is a highly
accomplished work with the band focusing the same amount of time and
effort on melody and aggression.
Opening
track - Alterna - is a two minute plus blast of Sludge/Punk/Stoner
heavy sounds. The vocals from Jan have an easy going and sinister
quality to them. Jan performs a few drone based chants on this song
and the heavy sludgy riffs is held together by a superbly heavy
distorted guitar sound.
Second
track - Seclusion - is where GRIN really expresses themselves more as
the song runs for around six minutes. This allows GRIN to slowly
build up their distorted Sludge/Punk/Stoner Metal sound. The sound
can be quite vicious at times but it's never off-putting. As the
frantic drums of Jan
is what really makes this song ticks.
GRIN
reminds me of Zoroaster in a lot of ways. Especially with the vocals
and how GRIN expertly weave their different musical elements into a
trippy and almost surreal nightmarish experience. The pounding
psychedelic rhythms leave you wanting more and the sparse
vocals/chants from Jan prove that GRIN are no mere pushovers despite
this being their debut album.
Third
track - Sentinel - carries on the distorted heavy psychedelic sound
though with an eerie familiar Stoner Metal influence holding
everything together. As before the song starts really slowly before
GRIN finally kick into action by playing a truly addictive
sludge/punk sound. The thing that surprised me the most with Revenant
is the amount of different sounds and textures that GRIN include on
this album. You think the album is going to stick to one set sound.
However GRIN change things by adding a Psychedelic/Drone/Ambient
groove to their music.
The
bass guitar can be too loud at times on certain parts of the album.
Though that's maybe the point of GRIN's music. To make you feel
uncomfortable and drown you with powerful sounds. The other songs on
the album are inspired by SLEEP and OM at times especially my
favourite song on the album - Ordinand.
The
final two songs - Revenant and Closure - offer some of the heaviest
and distorted sounds that the album has to offer. Revenant is another
one of my favourite songs on the album. As GRIN create a nightmarish
psychedelic and almost post-rock/post-metal vibe that is quite
different to the other songs on the album. I'm kicking myself for not
listening and reviewing this album sooner. As this album is an
absolute violent delight.
Revenant
has an almighty monolithic presence. The only other downside is the
album is on too short. I would have loved to hear another song.
Though it's best leaving the audience wanting more and not outstaying
your welcome. GRIN have delivered the goods with Revenant.
Revenant
is an unflinching and unapologetic album that you won't easily
forget.
Words
by Steve Howe
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