Release
date: April
20th
2019.
Label: Weed
Cabinet
Records.
Format: DD
The
Dread Gospels
– Tracklisting
1.Behold!
The Wurm
2.In
Depths Of Sleep
3.Terror
As Currency
4.Facing
The Monolith
5.Ascent
Into Madness
6.When
Cities Burn
7.New
Plague
Members
Eric
Sanchez: guitar,
Angel
Onofre: guitar,
Jamie
Danger: bass/vocals,
Luke
Scriven: drums
Review
Sometimes
you need darkness and brutality to make your way in the world and
that can be the best way to describe Without Light debut album –
The
Dread Gospels.
A brutal slice of Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal that has moments of Thrash
and Heavy Metal to unsettle your nerves. This album is not going to
be for everyone as the band create heavy violent riffs that will put
off the casual listener.
However,
if you’re a fan of the more extreme side of heavy metal and
appreciate the sounds of the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal genres then
Without Light will have you covered. The music is quite varied and
superbly played from the start. The whole album flows surprisingly
well and I didn’t expect that especially with Without Light even
playing a friendlier style of Stoner Rock/Metal on certain parts of
the album.
The
vocals are harsh and aggressive throughout the album and the band
never shy way in writing bleak doom based lyrics to match. Songs such
as Behold! The Wurm, In Depths Of Sleep, Terror
As Currency, Facing The Monolith are the early songs that allow
Without Light to make a great impression. As the music can be quite
progressive in places and have a cold Post-Metallic feel to them.
If
you’re a fan of bands such as Behold The Monolith, Mastodon and
High On Fire then you should enjoy this album. As Without Light are
aiming for a similar style of heaviness those bands are known for. In
some respects, Without Light play heavier riffs and create a more
threatening and violent sound. The album does take a few listens to
fully appreciate before you can judge the album on its own merits.
The
second half of the album is perhaps the best part of the album. As
the band create the heaviest parts
held on the album with Ascent
Into Madness, When Cities Burn and New Plague
ranking as the standout songs on the album. Sure there are only seven
songs held on the album but it’s the final three songs that Without
Light impress the most.
The
production is excellent and quite lively in places. The
Dread Gospels is
an album with a lot to say and is full of excellent progressive
grooves and shows Without Light are a band to look out for.
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
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