Release
date: June
28th
2019. Label: Destroy
Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
IV
– Tracklisting
1.Raise
the Sword 06:27
2.Wolves
and Prey
3.Storms
of Mars
4.This
Mortal Decay
5.Omens
05:41
6.Sound
of the Grave
7.The
Traveller
8.Like
Dried Blood
Members
Clayton Anderson - Guitar
James Woods - Bass
Nathan Hickey - Drums
Review
Truth
be told I never expected to see the return of Beastwars. Especially
after their last album – The Death Of All Things and Matt (Lead
Singer) announcing back then he was battling Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Thankfully, Matt has fought his way back to health and is now in
remission.
The
Death Of All Things was more subdued compared to their earlier albums
and felt like a farewell letter from the band to their fans. The
album was a very moving and deeply emotional album. Though it still
felt the band had unfinished business to take care of that was left
unresolved with The Death Of All Things.
Fast
forward three years and Beastwars are now ready to make their return
to the Sludge/Stoner Metal world they left behind with their epic new
album IV. This album is based upon the experiences Matt went through
battling this terrible disease and it makes for a deeply unflinching
album to listen to at times. You can hear Matt facing his worst fears
on this album and the unflinching lyrics cuts right to the bone on
the majority of the songs.
However,
the album has its fair share of uplifting moments as well. As
Beastwars embrace the fact that Matt is still here and this album is
a testament to Matt’s humanity and strength.
You
can expect to hear a more emotional and darker style of music
from the band. It’s more progressive with Beastwars embracing their
more Doom based sound. If you’re a fan of Beastwars first two
albums, then IV sees the band return to that heavy Doom/Sludge/Stoner
Metal sound they made their name with.
The
album opens with the troubling and deeply emotional sounds of –
Raise The Sword. Matt’s vocals return with an angry growl. Perhaps
some of the angriest and sombre vocals he’s ever recorded. The
lyrics are highly powerful and quite potent towards the end of the
song. Matt draws upon his recent experiences with this song whilst
the rest of the band create some epic progressive riffs to build the
song upon.
Second
song – Wolves and Prey – carries on the dark progressive themes
of the opening song but starts adding a more hopeful psychedelic
sound that will appear more frequently towards the end of the album.
Beastwars start to sound like their old selves on this song and it’s
a brilliant experience to fully listen to.
Third
song – Storms Of Mars – sees Beastwars adding a familiar “sci-fi”
vibe heard from their earlier albums but Matt’s vocals and lyrics
keeps everything grounded and I will admit when Matt starts singing
about not seeing his child growing up I broke down. This is the most
powerful and emotional song contained on the album and you can feel
the emotional intensity that Matt is singing about on this album. The
music is first rate with Beastwars creating a truly progressive
sound.
Fourth
song – This Mortal Decay – is one of my favourite songs on the
album as Beastwars start to play a more hopeful sound with trippy
psychedelic riffs that leave you wanting more. The song is more Doom
based compared to other songs but Beastwars have always been good at
merging different genres and still sound vastly different to other
Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal bands.
Fifth
song – Omens – starts very slowly but with a more laid-back and
heavier sound before settling down into a low-key rhythm. Matt’s
vocals yet again take centre stage with the riffs building a soulful
and hypnotic platform for the whole band to come together and build a
more hopeful environment for the album to flourish.
The
remainder of the album carries on the sombre, bleak and ultimately
hopeful mood with the final three songs – Sound Of The Grave, The
Traveller and Dried Like Blood – that perfectly captures the
intense and emotional journey that Beastwars have undertaken over the
last three years.
Beastwars
have delivered their best album to date and one of the best albums of
the year with IV. IV acts as a celebration of what everything
Beastwars have accomplished in their careers so far. The album is a
triumphant return for one of the best bands currently within the
scene and it’s great to have Beastwars back playing their most
uncompromising and unapologetic music they’ve released so far.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Richard at Sheltered Life PR for the promo. IV will be available
to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Destroy Records from June 28th
2019.
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