Release
date: June
14th
2019.
Label: Argonauta
Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Amygdala
– Tracklisting
1.The
Tower I 02:48
2.The
Tower II 04:25
3.Eremite
06:57
4.Modern
Prometheus 06:44
5.Nightmares
feat. Mona Miluski (High Fighter) 06:02
6.Warden
07:49
7.Beyond
the Wall 05:44
8.Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder 08:15
Members
voice:
Laura Mancini
Guitar:
Marco Bertucci
Bass
Guitar: Giovanni Mastrapasqua
Drum:
Marcello Modica
Review
Burning
Gloom used to be known as MY HOME OH TREES in their previous life.
The band have changed their name and returned with a slightly heavier
sound and a more progressive Doom based sound. Their new album
Amygdala is a weird and intoxicating mix of Doom Metal, Psych, Stoner
Metal and Blues Rock. There were elements of these genres heard on
their previous albums. However, they weren’t as powerful as they
are on Burning Gloom.
Amygdala
is all about soulful grooves and gloomy atmospheres which allows the
band to move from one trippy level to the next. One of the first
things that standout is Laura’s lead vocals which are influenced by
the legendary vocalists of the 60s/70s Classic Hard Rock Scene.
However, there is something troubling and slightly demonic hiding
behind Laura’s cool sounding vocals that surprised myself in a huge
way. As Laura starts singing a more harsher and violent style of
vocals especially on the second song – The Tower II.
The
first two songs – The Tower I and The Tower II – are your
standard Blues inspired Doom/Stoner Rock song with the band laying
down the groundwork for the rest of the album to follow. It’s a
hazy mix of different sounds but Burning Gloom wisely start adding
strands of Doom Metal to show their true heavy metal credentials.
The
album fully comes alive with epic third song – Eremite – as
Burning Gloom leave the Blues Rock world behind and play a highly
atmospheric style of Psychedelic Doom Metal. If you ever wondered
what Fleetwood Mac would sound like jamming with Black Sabbath then
this song is your best possible answer. It may seem a strange
combination however Burning Gloom make this work and that’s down to
the punishing riffs and fantastic sounding vocals from Laura yet
again. The song never feels forced and has quite a grounded reality
feel to it.
Fourth
song – Modern Prometheus – is one of the weakest songs on the
album. It’s still a good song just not as great as the other songs
on the album. As the song doesn’t sound as good and some of the
creative decisions don’t work as well as they should.
Fifth
song – Nightmares – sees the band return to winning ways and they
have one of my dearest friends from the Sludge/Stoner Metal scene
providing guest vocals on this song. Step forward Mona Miluski of
High Fighter fame. This song has a more delicate sounding classic
“Grunge” sound merged with nightmarish vocals from Mona. Laura
once again excels on lead vocals with Mona offering a more devilish
style of vocals. The music is a mixture of 90s sounding Doom, Stoner
Metal, Psych and Grunge. Perhaps one of the standout songs on the
album.
The
final 3 songs on the album – Warden, Beyond The Wall and Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder carries on the wonderful and weird sounding
Doom/Sludge/Psych/Stoner Metal riffs for over 20 minutes and the band
impress for the majority of the songs with Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder being the main highlight of the final 3 songs.
The
production is great for the most part. There’s a few moments where
the guitars aren’t as clear as they should be. However, Burning
Gloom should be mighty proud of this album. As it’s an exciting
chapter and a mighty step forward for band not only musically but
also on a creative level.
Amygdala
is a stunning record and one that deserves to be heard by the biggest
audience possible.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo. Amygdala is available to buy on
CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records now.
