Release
date: October 31st
2019.
Label: Self
Released.
Format: CD/DD
Drown
The Phoenix –
Tracklisting
1.Intro
- Drown The Phoenix
2.Run
To The Knife
3.Blessed
Insane 09:39
4.Acid
Dice
5.Dismembered
Remembrance
6.The
Bright Side Of Hell
7.The
Pale
Members
Tom
Clarke – Vocals
Niall
Ward – Bass
Steven
Chivers – Guitar
John
McSherry – Guitar
Tony
Murray – Drums and Keys *
Review
Irish
Sludge/Doom Rockers – Bad Boat – finally return with their new
album Drown The Phoenix. This is their first release in about 10 years. So a very long wait indeed but it has definitely been worth
the wait. As Bad Boat will treat you to a heavy blast of Sludge/Doom
grooves with a twinge of Progressive sounds being added in the early
stages of the album.
Opening
song Intro – Drown The Phoenix opens with two low-key guitars
playing a Blues based riff with a gloomy atmosphere holding
everything together. The sound and feel of the song is quite raw for
the first few moments before the band add a heavier Sludge/Stoner
Metal vibe to the song. Shades of seventies style Classic Hard Rock
make an appearance. The rough sounding vocals appear and sees the
band add a NOLA style influence to this song and their overall sound.
The song does end on a topical bleak note which I applaud the band
for doing.
Second
song Run To The Knife is a song that’s very hard to describe.
Parts Sludge, Doom and Stoner Rock but with an almost classic funk
based sound. Maybe influenced by CLUTCH on this song but Bad Boat’s
familiar NOLA grooves is what holds everything together. The albums
rough and ready production means the listener is very much part of
the action. As the music feels quite organic in places. The riffs are
the best part of this song as the band move into many different
directions that it’s hard to keep up at times.
Third
song Blessed Insane is perhaps the heaviest and most Doom based song
on the album. As it has a classic sounding Doom Rock/Metal vibe from
the start. The outlandish vocals are very OTT but one that adds a
bleak undertone to the whole feel and structure of the album. The
song runs for almost ten minutes and it sees Bad Boat playing
progressive riffs on this song. The song does run out of steam
towards the end but it’s still the standout song on the album with
its epic and theatrical outlook on all things Doom Metal.
Fourth
song Acid Dice is more of a Psychedelic and Surreal Nightmare with
the heavy guitars merged with weird and experimental vocals leading
the way. This is another standout song on the album with the band
showing a deeply rich and creative flair on this song.
The
final songs – Dismembered Remembrance, The Bright Side Of Hell and
The Pale sees Bad Boat continue their descent into Doom based madness
with riffs that stretch the boundaries of Doom, Sludge and Stoner
Metal. The album still maintains its raw sounding atmosphere with the
music still feeling very powerful throughout.
The
raw sound of the album maybe too raw for some. Though I urge folks to
give this album a listen. As there are some fantastic riffs waiting
to be heard and discovered. Bad Boat have delivered the goods with
Drown The Phoenix and this makes for a superbly entertaining album
from start to finish.
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
I
want to thank Tom from the band for the promo. Drown The Phoenix will
be available to buy on CD/DD from October 31st
2019.
