Release
date: November
30th
2018. Label: Wasted
State
Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
True
Misery
–
Tracklisting
1.Shark
Attack
2.Snakes!!!
3.Tree
Of Ténéré
4.The
Adventures Of Rupert Biggins
5.Trees
Fall Down
6.Cursed
Ocean, Relentless Sea
7.Misery
Is Miserable
8.Return
To Earth
Members
Jack
Newham - Guitar & Vocals
Gav
Senior - Bass
Dan
Beales - Drums
Review
Old
Man Lizard are a Doom/Sludge/Stoner Rock band from the UK who have
been compared to bands such as Harvey Milk, Baroness and Torche
during their musical journey and that's down to their unique style of
music they create on their previous albums. Now the band are about to
release their third album - True Misery - and it's perhaps their
heaviest and most daring album to date. Old Man Lizard manage to
create a world-weary Sludge/Stoner Metal sound that has strands of
Americana based music popping up from time to time.
Old
Man Lizard are another band who have their own style of music and it
can be quite lo-fi and distant at times. However the band have always
played that sound on their past two albums.
True
Misery offers a gloomier experience and the opening song - Shark
Attack - is a mixture of heavy sludge/doom riffs that have quite a
raw edge to them and the bleak sounding vocals from Jack only adds to
the slightly sombre mood of the album. However Old Man Lizard never
make you feel uncomfortable as the music has quite a hopeful quality
to it at times.
Second
song - Snakes - has a more Psychedelic Blues Rock sound that sees the
band play a heavier Punk Rock style of music as well. The lyrics are
quite simple but they do their job superbly well. The song lasts
around two minutes in lengths but you'll be surprised how
action-packed this song actually is.
Third
song - Tree Of Tenere - has a more grizzled psychedelic and
experimental Americana feel but with a slight twinge of Baroness
mellow riffs. This is perhaps the song inspired by Baroness the most
on the album but still having that authentic Old Man Lizard sound and
that's mainly the lo-fi psychedelic Stoner vibes that has that twinge
of Americana holding everything together.
Though
the band impress the most on the second half of the album with the
more epic songs - "Cursed Ocean, Relentless Sea" and Misery
Is Miserable. Both running near the nine minute mark. Old Man Lizard
seem to thrive more on the lengthier songs. As they perhaps more time
to play with.
These
two songs allows you to see the real Old Man Lizard with epic
progressive Sludge/Stoner riffs matched against insightful lyrics as
well. Old Man Lizard prove on this album that Sludge/Stoner Metal
still has the power to be daring and different. It may take you a few
listens to fully appreciate and understand this album as the band
have included so many different ideas.
The
production is simply superb and is one of the best parts of the
album. As Old Man Lizard have never sounded this good. True Misery
proves why Old Man Lizard are one of the most genuine and exciting
bands to emerge from the UK Sludge/Stoner Metal scene in recent
years.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Mona at All Noir for the promo. True Misery will be available to
buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Wasted State Records from November 30th
2018.
Links:
