Release
date: December 20th
2019. Label: Overlook
Hotel Records.
Format: CD/DD
The
Harvesting – Tracklisting
1.Scythe
01:22
2.The
Harvesting 03:49
3.Shroud
03:32
4.Tonguerazor
(feat Margherita Bandini) 05:55
5.Savage
04:46
6.Primeval
03:36
7.Lifeline
06:28
8.Tombs
03:56
9.Amphetamine
05:07
Members
John
"Vince Green" Walker - Vocals, Guitars and Bass
Kevin
Hartnell - Drums, Guitars and Synth
Review
The
Harvesting is THAL (Those Heathens Are Loose) 3rd
album and the
band continue to evolve their style of Doom/Stoner Metal to a more
classic style of Hard Rock/Metal. The album is quite intense places
with the THAL offering a lot more groovier sounds that have quite a
NOLA-esque style especially with the lyrics. With this being the
band’s 3rd
album they do try a lot of different things on this record compared
to their previous two albums and it works superbly well.
The
songs are way more progressive despite the short running times of
some of the songs. THAL play a twisted variety of Hard Rock/Metal on
The Harvesting with the Doom/Stoner Metal riffs being the main glue
that holds everything together. Shades of 70s/80s Heavy Metal are
thrown in just for the sheer hell of it. Despite THAL being a two-man
operation this album feels there is just more than Vince and Kevin in
their ranks. With the vocals being quite different in places.
The
standout songs on The Harvesting are: The Harvesting, Shroud,
Tonguerazor, Lifeline and Amphetamine. As these songs have the
heaviest songs on the album and where THAL progressive further
musically than I’ve ever heard from the band. If you’re a fan of
Black Sabbath, Black Label Society, Crowbar and DOWN then THAL is the
place for you to be. As you can feel those influences raging through
this album and then some. The album is dense and heavy with the album
creating a bleak atmosphere which matches the dark imagery contained
on the album cover.
The
production is very good indeed. There are a couple of raw sounding
moments but I feel that’s what the band wanted the album to sound
like. The Harvesting is less optimistic and more controlling than
previous THAL releases. However, this shows that THAL have a more
grown-up and mature sound and it’s good to see the band take more
creative risks with their music.
Words
by Steve Howe
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