Wednesday 19 June 2019

Negative Wall - Gammagelu (EP Review)


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

Links: