Friday 9 November 2018

Birnam Wood - Wicked Worlds (Album Review) And Exclusive Song Premiere Of Dunsinane


Release date: November 19th 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Wicked Worlds – Tracklisting

Time Of Purification
Richard Dreyfuss
Dunsinane
Early Warning
Greenseer
A Song For Jorklum
Return To Samarakand

Members

Shaun Anzalone
Dylan Edwards
Matt Wagner
Adam McGrath

Review

Wicked Worlds is the new album from Doom/Stoner Metallers Birnam Wood. This is their second album and another band I wasn’t fully aware of. This is my first awareness of the band and I’ve became a fan of their heavy Doom/Stoner Metal grizzled sound with a mighty WEEDIAN vibe running throughout the album.

The band take influence from bands such as Black Sabbath, Red Fang and Sleep. Though Birnam Wood are not afraid to experiment with the standard Doom/Stoner Metal sound by adding elements of Hardcore grooves into their music.

Opening song – Time Of Perfection - opens with a hard-hitting speech which made me initially expect to hear a more extreme kind of music. I was surprised when the band play a heavy style of Sludge/Stoner Rock underlined by a classic Doom Rock sound. This song reminds me of much-missed UK Sludge Rockers – TAINT – in so many ways especially with the vocals.

Second song – Richard Dreyfuss – goes straight for the Sludge/Stoner Rock jugular with a heavy pounding and melodic sound. You can hear traces of that classic Sabbath/SLEEP sound but with more sinister and heavier grooves. Birnam Wood splice the song with soundbytes from various Richard Dreyfuss movies. A very cool touch indeed.

Third song – Dunsinane – has a more classic doomed approach with the music not as heady as the opening two songs. The vocals have a slight Ozzy feel. The mood of the album and this song in general is action packed and shows you how the band include so many different sounds into their music.

Don’t worry; I’m not going to do a song-by-song review for the rest of the album. As the rest of the album follows the same heavy progressive path as the opening three songs. The standout songs on this part of the album have to be Early Warning and Return To Samarkand. Though all of the songs on this album are great. As Birnam Wood manage to keep the mood exciting and fresh.

Birnam Wood always remember what type of band they are and they never decide to do anything flashy or OTT. This album is one that will capture the hearts and minds of the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal community. As there is something for everyone to admire this album a great deal.

Overall, Birnam Wood have released a brilliantly entertaining and must have album that you need to own now.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Birnam Wood for the promo. Wicked Worlds will be available to buy on November 19th 2018.

You can hear an exclusive song premiere of Dunsinane from the forthcoming new album.


Links: