Release
date: February
8th
2019. Label: Black Doomba Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Gammagelu
– Tracklisting
1.Imperii
Exsules (Galactic Viatores) 08:24
2.Hybrid
Genus Serpentis 07:02
3.Mater
Saeva Kp22 06:35
4.Torquemada
71 06:03
Members
Don
Cole (guitar, vox)
Dennis
Reid (drums, vox)
Tommy
Stewart (bass, vox)
Review
It’s
taken me a while to listen and fully appreciate the new EP
from Doom/Stoner Metallers Negative Wall and I can only apologize to
the band for the lateness of my review. Gammagelu is a stunning
psychedelic music odyssey through the past 40 years or so of Doom
Metal, Stoner Metal, Heavy Metal and everything in between.
The
EP
is a complex sounding and highly progressive release
that owes a huge debt of thanks to the legendary 70s Doom Metal/Heavy
Metal scene as Negative Wall play a vast array off different sounds
and riffs from that classic era.
One
of the main things that standout for Negative Wall is the individuals
who make up this highly talented and Psychedelic dwelling DOOM UNIT.
As the band have Tommy Stewart and Dennis Reid in their ranks.
Members of such bands of Bludy Gyres and Tommy Stewart's Dyerwulf.
They are joined by Don Cale on guitar for this band and they make an
almighty and heavenly racket.
The
record
is perhaps inspired mostly by Hawkwind, Black Sabbath and Saint
Vitus. Though, Negative Wall tend to lean more on the Psychedelic
Stoner Metal side of life especially on the excellent opening song -
Imperii Exsules (Galactic Viatores) – which contains some of the
heaviest and trippiest vibes on the entire record.
Gammagelu
can
be quite dark and complex at times but Negative Wall thrive on
creating a bleak sounding atmosphere as their music needs that hidden
depth of darkness for everything to work. The vocals which all 3
members provide is simply superb especially when the more mellow
moments appear most importantly on the standout song of the EP
– Hybrid Genius Serpents.
The
song starts off quite slowly with a Post-Rock/Post-Doom ambient style
riff before the band add a modern sounding Stoner Metal groove that
has an air of intelligence around it all. The second half of the
record
sees Negative Wall draw influences from ELECTRIC WIZARD and ALICE IN CHAINS with their
down-tempo and distorted guitars adding a more violent presence to
their music. The band have even included a cover of Electric Wizard
classic - Torquemada 71.
This
cover is more rough and in your face compared to the original but it
does work and it’s quite a cool cover to end the record
with.
Gammagelu
is
a wildly exciting debut record for Negative Wall to come out with.
The production isn’t the best but it allows Negative Wall to get
straight down to business and show the world what they’re all
about. I want to hear more from these guys and I’m hoping a full
length album isn’t too far behind.
If you haven’t heard Negative Wall before then I urge you to check Gammagelu now. As this is a KICK-ASS RECORD through and through.
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
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