Saturday, 14 September 2019

VOKONIS - Grasping Time (Album Review)


Release date: September 06th 2019. Label: The Sign Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Grasping TIme – Tracklisting
1.AntlerQueen 07:47
2.Sunless Hymnal 09:57
3.I Hear The Siren 04:34 video
4.Exiled 02:05
5.Ashes 01:57
6.Embers 08:24
7.Grasping Time 04:15 video
8.Fading Lights 05:37

Members

Simon Ohlsson - Guitar, Vocals 
Emil Larsson - Drums 
Jonte Johansson - Bass, Vocals

Review

Grasping Time is the new album from Swedish Progressive Doom Rockers VOKONIS and it sees the band move further away from the sound they created on their celebrated debut album. Where there debut embraced the true world of Stoner Rock/Metal with influences diverse such as Elder, Mastodon and SLEEP. This album does see those influences but the band have adapted a more 70s style of Progressive Rock and more Doom orientated as well.

You can expect to hear Thin Lizzy style guitars, riffs and harmonies with the complex world building that Mastodon are known for. This is still VOKONIS and they deliver their riffs with wild imagination and creativity. They psychedelic overtones of opening song AntlerQueen are there to meet you with open arms and take you on a heavy Doom/Stoner and Prog Metal odyssey. 

Grasping Time is perhaps VOKONIS most mature release yet and the music is quite inventive compared to their previous albums.This is a band coming of age and ready for bigger and better things. Songs such as Sunless Hymnal, I Hear The Siren, Embers and Fading LIghts instantly draw you in and show that VOKONIS have a wide array of different grooves and sounds to play and excite the listener with.

I admire the different sounds that VOKONIS have included on this album with elements of Ambient Rock and Post-Rock appearing throughout the album. I’m pretty sure that the band feel inspired by CULT OF LUNA and OPETH on this release. As I can hear and feel their sound raging throughout the album. The lyrics have a certain OPETH vibe to them especially on Sunless Hymnal.

The main exciting part of the album is the overall journey the band take you upon and to witness the new evolution of VOKONIS to be major league players in the Doom/Stoner Metal arena. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Curtis at Dewar PR for the promo. Grasping Time is available to buy now on all formats.

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