Release
date: November
23rd
2019.
Label: Ripple
Music (CD) / Cursed Tongue Records
(Vinyl).
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Hymns
Of The Damned
– Tracklisting
1.Shadow
in the Night 06:36
2.Morbid
Lust 05:19
3.Thrill
Seeker 05:24
4.Lobotomy
05:56
5.Solicitor
of Evil 06:56
6.Green
River 03:33
7.Reverend
Death 03:47
8.Forever
Trapped in Hell 04:11
Members
Ludvig
Andersson (Guitar/Vocals)
Nils
Ein (Drums)
Estefan
Carrillo (Bass)
Review
Hymns
Of The Damned is the new album Swedish Fuzz/Doom/Stoner Rockers and
it sees the band continue their Heavy Rock/Metal journey inspired by
the classic 70s Hard Rock sound. The album is quite a confident
affair with the band playing addictive grooves that feel influenced
by bands such as Black Sabbath and Uncle Acid but with a more
addictive Fuzz/Stoner Rock sound.
Opening
song – Shadow In The Night – dives head on into the Doom Metal
sound with heavy grooves aligning themselves to a more threatening
Stoner/Fuzz based approach. The vocals are loud, brash and full-on
from the start but the music is where the magic happens with this
highly talented Power-Trio proving they can play some epic riffs of
their own. The band do play some finely tuned psychedelic guitar
solos along the way which is quite refreshing to hear.
Second
song – Morbid Lust – as you can tell from the song title carries
on with the almost Occult/Doom Metal approach with a heavy bass riff
opening the song before the heavy gloomy guitars take centre-stage
and drive the action to the very end. The vocals are definitely
inspired by 70s Classic Doom Rock/Metal with the lyrics having quite
an Occult feel to them. The music can be too theatrical and classed
too “Retro” at times but there is an addictive charm to it all.
Third
song – Thrill
Seeker – has a more “Garage Rock” feel to it with the vintage
production that is contained on the song. This isn’t as polished as
the opening two songs but is the most intriguing. As the band feel
truly alive on this song despite the raw sound and manic energy of it
all. This feels like Hazemaze have stripped everything back for a
true sounding 70s Doom/Stoner Rock offering and it ends up being
perhaps the best song on the entire album.
Hazemaze
follow the same path for the rest of the album with the band further
exploring their strangely wonderful Doom/Fuzz/Stoner Metal hybrid
sound with a few dangerous Psychedelic twists and turns along the
way. Songs such as Lobotomy, Solicitor Of Evil and Reverend Death
sees Hazemaze selling their creative souls to SATAN himself with some
epic riffs being played just for the sheer FUN of it all.
The
production is handled superbly well. As it sees the band play a fine
balance between 70s Doom Metal and even modern sounding Fuzz/Stoner
Metal atmospherics.
If
you’re looking for old-school Doom Metal thrills and spills but
with a more modern approach then you should give Hymns Of The Damned
a spin. As it’s quite an exciting and action-packed listen that
even LUCIFER himself would approve of.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Claire at Purple Sage PR for the promo. Hymns Of The Damned is
available to buy now via the following labels and formats:
