Release
date: November
02nd
2018.
Label: Self
Released.
Format: CD/DD
Weight
Of The World –
Tracklisting
1.I'm
Not Dead 04:02
2.Paralyser
04:58
3.Long
Man 04:15
4.Low
Tides 01:09
5.Incoming
Waves 05:58
6.Deadweight
06:08
7.Amnesia
04:24
8.Preacher
05:56
9.Piece
by Peace 07:17
Members
Mikey
Ward - Vocals/Guitar
Peter
Hunt - Guitar
Simon
Wilson - Bass
James
Lane - Drums
Review
Black
Atlas debut album Weight Of The World has one foot in Desert/Stoner
Rock past and the other buried in heavy modern sounding FUZZ based
Sludge grooves. The band pull off a fine balancing act of paying
homage to the Desert/Stoner Rock Bands of yesteryear and today’s
Psychedelic
Fuzz/Sludge
Rock
Bands.
The
album’s production is quite loud and angry whilst offering a raw
sound that allows Black Atlas to what they’re fully capable of and
you get that feeling from excellent opening song – I’m Not Dead.
This song sees Black Atlas playing a mixture of heavy Sludge/Stoner
Rock that soon sees the music bring in elements of Fuzz, Grunge and
Desert Rock with a seedy atmosphere that I didn’t quite expect.
Black
Atlas carry on playing this style of music on songs such as:
Paralyser, Long Man and Low Tides with the band then opting to decide
to add strands of Psychedelic Rock that have quite a trippy feel to
them. The vocals from Mikey
are influenced by the classic sounds of Desert/Stoner Metal and puts
in a commanding performance with the right amount of determination
and grit.
The
lyrics and music are inspired by bands such as Kyuss, Monster Magnet
and Fu Manchu. This allows Weight Of The World to be quite a complex
and progressive heavy affair and Black Atlas thrive on this. As Black
Atlas treat you to a collection of great songs that should sound
spectacular on the LIVE STAGE.
My
only complaint of the album is the second half stumbles here and
there but the final two songs on the album – Preacher and Piece By
Piece – sees Black Atlas return to form with some of the best riffs
contained on the album.
Black
Atlas sound like a band that are about to release their 6th
or 7th
album and
not their debut album. The band may have Weight Of The World on their
shoulders but this album may just prove that Black Atlas deserve
their shot playing with the more established bands within the UK
Sludge/Stoner Metal scene.
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
