Release
date: November
02nd
2018. Label: Self
Released.
Format: CD/DD
Dead
Now – S/T – Tracklisting
1.Haunting
the Graves of the Unhallowed
2.The
DeZalze Horror
3.I
Created God
4.The
Crawling Chaos
5.No
Prayers, No Fires
6.The
Hunt
Members
Tim
Harbour - Vocals and Guitar
Pat
Stephansen - Drums
Evert
Snyman - Bass
Review
Grotesque
and Inexorable is the deeply disturbing and heavy new album from
South African Doom/Sludge Rockers – MAD GOD. This album is perhaps
my first true exposure to the South African Doom/Sludge Metal scene
and it doesn’t disappoint.
MAD
GOD are inspired by bands such as Ufomammut, Electric Wizard, CONAN
and even traditional heavy metal sounds in places. As the band add a
classic heavy metal sound to their gloomy atmosphere. The album is
heavily inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft and this allows the
band to go absolutely crazy with the lyrical content held on the
album.
The
album is seedy and very progressive throughout with most of the songs
running between 7 minutes to 9 minutes in length. The music has
elements of dirty Fuzz based rock that slightly out of place when you
first listen to the album. Especially on the opening song Haunting
the Graves of the Unhallowed, though the mood soon settles down and
you’re treated to some highly progressive Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal
sounds. The music can be very slow-paced at times but that only draws
you into Mad God’s dark gloomy world.
If
you’re a fan of Electric Wizard and Church Of Misery then the
opening stages of the album will have you hooked from the start. The
opening songs Haunting the Graves of the Unhallowed and The DeZaize
Horror are the strongest songs held on the album. Maybe not the
loudest but perhaps where Mad God make the best creative decisions on
the album.
I’m
not overly familiar with the works of H.P. Lovecraft, so I’m basing
this review of my enjoyment of the music itself and I can say that
Mad God excel on creating a dark and highly atmospheric album. Mad
God do experiment with their sound on the later stages of the album.
As you can hear different musical elements coming into play and
dominating proceedings as well.
Other
good songs to check out are: The Crawling Cross, “No Prayers, No
Fires” and The Hunt. It’s perhaps on the final two songs where
Mad God embrace their Doom Metal persona even more. As the mood is
very sinister and that’s down to the fantastic vocals and gloomy
lyrics the band have written for these two songs.
The
production is very good indeed and has quite a vintage classic horror
feel to it. As the sound is quite grainy and raw at times. This
allows the album to be quite atmospheric and I wasn’t expecting
that. So top-marks for the albums production. Overall, Grotesque and
Inexorable is wonderfully creepy and weird sounding album that sees
Mad God play to their absolute strengths.
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Warren
and Plug Music Agency.
Grotesque
and Inexorable
will be available to buy on CD/DD from November
2nd
2018.
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