Release
date: October
05th
2018. Label: Ripple
Music.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Of
Blood And Wine
– Tracklisting
1.Join
the Dead Ones 05:34
2.Erzebeth
12:19
3.Of
Blood and Wine 02:35
4.Secular
Lord 05:34
5.Lust
09:52
6.The
Gathering 07:08
Members
Tom
- Vocals & Guitar
Rob
- Lead Guitar
Simon
- Bass
Ben
- Drums
Review
The
Necromancers second album Of Blood And Wine continues their highly
progressive sound against the Doom/Stoner Metal spectrum with heavy
touches of NWOBHM. The album has real flair for 70/80s classic heavy
metal sounds but with a more leaner modern sound. That’s a very
hard combination to pull off but The Necromancers do this with
relevant ease.
This
album shouldn’t really work as the band never stick to one sound.
They could have easily confused the listener but to the band’s
credit they create a dynamic and powerful release where all the songs
all sound very different to each other.
The
album is very OTT and dramatic in various places but that’s what
gives The Necromancers their well deserved reputation within the
scene. As the band have their own vision and are not afraid to
experiment with their own sound but also what people come to expect
from Doom/Stoner Metal in general.
Opening
song – Join The Dead Ones – has a retro Doom/Occult sound though
the band play a more progressive hard rock sound towards the very
end. The instrumental work is very gloomy and lives up to the Occult
Rock/Doom Metal aspect of the band’s overall sound.
Second
song – Erzebeth – is a 13 minute epic that plays out like a mini
Doom/Stoner Rock opera. This is definitely the standout song on the
album. This song gives the album a more old school Doom Metal feel
and equally a more modern Stoner Metal vibe as well. The dual guitars
smacks of Thin Lizzy/iron Maiden TWIN GUITAR worship and that’s no
bad thing in my book.
Third
track – Of Blood And Wine – is a gloomy acoustic song which shows
a different side to The Necromancers. The song has a slight Folk Rock
vibe which has quite an emotional edge. Shame it’s on the short
side as I was really digging this snog before it abruptly ended. I
would like to see the band explore this kind of music further on
future releases.
The
second half of the album is equally as good as the first half. The
standout songs have to be Secular Lord and The Gathering. As both
contain an epic gloomy landscape within them.
Overall
this is another highly majestic release from both Ripple Music and
The Necromancers. This is still The Necromancers show and they prove
this album they have a real creative dynamic flair that you don’t
hear from many bands today.
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Richard at Sheltered Life PR for the promo. Of Blood And Wine is
available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl now via Ripple Music.