Tuesday 26 March 2019

DRUIDS - Monument (Album Review)


Release date: April 19th 2019. Label: The Company KC. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Monument – Tracklisting

1.New Breath
2.Iron Healer
3.Mirrors of Trigon
4.The Whip
5.Shivast

Members

Luke Rauch : Vocals/ Guitar
Keith Rich: Drums
Drew Rauch: Vocals/ Bass

Review

Progressive Sludge/Stoner Rockers DRUIDS new album Monument is perhaps the record that will hopefully see them gain actual mainstream attention. As they’ve created an album that draws influence from Sleep, Mastodon and Baroness though an album still with its sound and identity. Newly signed to The Company KC who have are a building up a steady reputation in releasing quality sounding releases and Monument is no different.

Opening song – New Breath – has some epic Mastodon-esque riffs running through it’s veins though offering a more varied Progressive Rock sound. The sci-fi based themes are what makes DRUIDS music truly standout. As the mood becomes more volatile and allows the band to create a more thunderous style of Sludge/Stoner Metal with the vocals being more grounded as well.

Second song – Iron Healer – has a heavier and more direct sound compared to the opening song. The vocals are a cool mix of Clean Vocals and Heavy Prowls and is perhaps DRUIDS best vocal performance to date. The psychedelic and space rock riffs work superbly with the heavier Progressive Rock/Metal elements the band have included here.

Third song – Mirrors Of Trigon – is the song that is perhaps the standout song and the one that has been generating actual buzz within the scene for DRUIDS and rightly so. This is an epic reinvention of the modern sounding Sludge/Stoner Metal sound. The sludgy and droned out guitars slowly build up a cold rhythm before the doomier elements appear for a more varied and richer sound. The vocals have an alternative rock/metal feel to them and it works surprisingly well. The lyrics maybe OTT but it allows everything to flow naturally whilst telling an interesting story as well.

The final two songs – The Whip and Shivast – continues with the epic Sci-Fi based themes DRUIDS build their music upon. Shivast is perhaps the strongest of the final two songs as DRUIDS go all out on this song and perhaps perform some of the albums heaviest progressive sounds.

Monument is DRUIDS finest record to date and they deserve all the success and plaudits coming their way. This is a record you cannot miss.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to The Company KC for the promo. Monument will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via The Company KC from April 19th 2019.

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