Release
date: April 26th
2019. Label: RidingEasy
Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Death
And Consolation
– Tracklisting
1.Sabbah
03:49
2.Raven
03:52
3.Death
Song 04:48
4.Cup
of Peace 04:30
5.Eyes
of A God 03:41
6.Act
II 06:32
7.Freedom
Above 04:03
8.This
is How The World Ends 04:53
9.Endless
Night 06:16
Members
Ian
Graham
Lisa
Alley
Jason
Sullivan
Review
The
first time I heard The Well was a few years back. Their label, the
consistently amazing, RidingEasy records included a test pressing of
the band’s debut album, Samsara, with my order. Goddamn if I wasn’t
blown away. The psych heavy, Austin based doom trio play a brand of
straight forward, garage inspired, occult driven doom that is hard
rocking and catchy as hell. Death and Consolation is the band’s
third full length and is a bit more stripped down there prior two
albums, but the more lean and mean sound lends itself very, very well
to the trio. There are a ton of different sounds and influences that
can be heard throughout Death and Consolations 9 smoking tracks.
The
album opens with the fuzzy and blissed out Sabbah
that
showcases the overall sound of the band, driving drums and riffage
with intertwined male/female vocals delivering dark lyrics with a
monstrous earworm hook. The tempo picks up a bit with the driving
Raven.
Which rocks hard before closing out with a one-note piano blast. The
band draws from their European doom brethren on Death
Song.
The track is riff heavy and oozes Doom. I kept thinking of Kadavar on
this one. I think it is the vivid lyrical imagery and the masterful
vocal delivery that make this one of the albums best songs.
Cup
of Peace
keeps
the heavy doom onslaught going. The songs blisters with tons of
distortion and more end of days feel lyrics. My absolute favorite
track on Death and Consolation is Eyes
of a God.
It is the most inspired song. The ultra catchy, monstrous Sabbath
inspired riff drives the song into a sweet chorus. The band doesn’t
let up on the doom when Act
II
comes
crashing in. The riff is heavy and unrelenting on the listener. The
band does slow things down a bit with Freedom
Above.
The bass driven intro leads this more meditative rock track that begs
“Please don’t take my high away”. Monkey sounds open and close
the catchy, epic rock inspired, This
is How.
The song is propelled by a monster riff and catchy as hell chorus.
Another monstrous riff closes the record on Endless
Night.
The band grooves mightily and brings in some dark, melodious bells to
bring this masterful record to a close.
The
Well are truly one of, if not, the best American doom bands around.
Death and Consolation only adds to their impressive catalogue. If you
are familiar, then you will want this record in your collection. If
you are new to this mighty trio, this record is a tremendous starting
point. I can certainly see this record on many a best of the year
list for 2019. I am damn sure it will be near the top of mine. Dig on
this one!
Words by Todd Stealey
Death And Consolation is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via RidingEasy Records.
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