Wednesday 9 October 2019

The Lumberjack Feedback - Mere Mortals (Album Review)


Release date: April 26th 2019. Label: Deadlight Entertainment. Format: Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl

Mere Mortals – Tracklisting

1.Therapy? 06:36
2.Kill! Kill! Kill! Die! Die! Die! 04:22
3.New order (of the ages) - Part I 05:23
4.New order (of the ages) - Part II 05:18
5.Wind's last blow 04:01
6.A white horse (called Death) 09:16
7.Kobe (the doors of spirit) 12:10

Members

Simon Herbaut & Geoffrey Gosset :Guitar
Sebastien Tarridec : Bass
Nicolas Tarridec & Virgile Chaize : Drums

Review

I’ve always been a fan of The Lumberjack Feedback style of Instrumental Doom/Post-Metal grooves over the last few years or so. I’ve enjoyed most of their studio output and the band have their own way of creating hard-hitting style of Instrumental Rock/Metal music. Though I will admit it has taken me a very long time to fully appreciate their new album – Mere Mortals.

As this album is way more darker and progressive than their 2016 debut album Blackened Visions. Mere Mortals takes the harsh ideas they created on Blackened Visions and play a more volatile and violent sound. The overall sound of the album is still firmly rooted in Doom/Sludge Metal grooves but with a dark Instrumental Post-Metal theme allowing the band to create a more mature sound compared to previous releases.

Opening song – Therapy? - allows the band to show the listener how dark this album will be with Progressive sounding Post-Metal vibes building up to a thrilling and noisy environment. The sound can be classed as Post-Black Metal at times but the band keep the Doom/Sludge Metal riffs coming thick and fast so it’s hard not to be impressed by it all.

I was expecting moments of Stoner Metal to appear that the band have used on previous releases but there isn’t a trace of any kind. The Lumberjack Feedback have focused on creating a more gloomy offering and it’s a wise decision. As the band do venture into some dark places especially on songs such as: Kill! Kill! Kill! Die! Die! Die!, New order (of the ages) - Part I, New order (of the ages) - Part II and Wind’s Last Blow.

These songs is where The Lumberjack Feedback impress the most with excellent instrumental work especially the drumming from both sets of drummers – Nicolas and Virgile. The drumming is downright ferocious and angry throughout the entire album and allows the band to create some dark epic grooves. The Ambient based sounds are another nice touch which allows the band to slow the mood right down and let the listener catch their breath before the next heavy onslaught of Progressive based riffs.

The Lumberjack Feedback are not doing anything new within the Instrumental Post-Metal scene but they are making music that people should take notice of. The final two songs - A white horse (called Death) and Kobe (the doors of spirit) bring this epic sounding album to a close and contain some of the heaviest sounds of the album.

Overall, Mere Mortals is another winning album from The Lumberjack Feedback and will no doubt impress the Post-Metal masses to fully take notice.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo. Mere Mortals is available to buy now on Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl via Deadlight Entertainment.

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