Release
date: January
31st
2020. Label: Self
Released.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Fostermother
- S/T
-
Tracklisting
1.Destroyers
04:35
2.Dark
Sun
3.Give
05:18
4.Lie
in Wait
5.Fathoms
6.Blood
on the Wall
7.In
the Shadow
Members
Travis
Weatherred
Stephen
Griffin
Review
Fostermother
self-titled debut album may run for thirty minutes but that’s more
enough time for the band to impress you with their style of Heavy
Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal riffs which draws influence from
Monolord, Black Sabbath, Uncle Acid and Blue Oyster Cult. The band
focus on a more melodic style of Doom/Stoner Metal with Heavy
Psychedelic and Classic Rock influences.
Opening
song – Destroyers – has a hazy seventies Doom Rock feel before
adding a modern Stoner Rock/Metal riff with a slightly distorted Fuzz
Rock sound. The vocals soon kick in and we’re instantly transported
back to the heyday of Classic Doom/Hard Rock with echoes of Blue
Oyster Cult appearing in the vocals. The lyrics portray a band who
are willing to inject a bleaker atmosphere that you wouldn’t expect
with the trippy distorted guitar riffs showing you that Fostermother
mean business.
Second
song – Dark Sun – opens with a heavy and almost laid-back
Post-Doom groove before settling down for an upbeat Stoner Metal
delivery with flashes of Desert Rock and Fuzz Rock appearing. The
lyrical content maybe dark but the music tells a different story and
this works to the band’s favour. As this song shows all the
different sides that make up Fostermother. It’s addictive, soulful
and enough trippy based heaviness for the listener to lose themselves
in.
Third
song – Give – is played at a slow pace as Fostermother gradually
bring out their “Doom” based persona to the song and it’s quite
progressive in places. The heavy distorted Fuzz Rock sounds appear
and interact superbly well with the gloomier sounds currently being
played on the song. The instrumental work is equally fascinating as
the band play different strands of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Rock.
Fourth
song – Lie In Wait – is quite different of all of the songs on
the album as the vocals and lyrics have an almost “Indie/Alternative
Rock” vibe at the start of the song. Though the Doom/Stoner Metal
vibe soon appears and takes centre-stage but the band has a deep
appreciation for Eighties Alternative/Goth Rock. The Electronic
Influence is another great touch and this allows the song to be my
favourite on the album. Just showing how crazy and inventive
Fostermother can actually be.
The
final three songs: Fathoms, Blood On The Wall and In The Shadow sees
Fostermother continuing their musical journey with dark and seedy
lyrics matched against their own Psychedelic blend of Distorted Fuzz,
Doom and Stoner Metal that has a gloomy seventies atmosphere holding
everything together.
For
an album with a short running time, Fostermother cover a lot of
ground and truth be told the album could have done with a couple more
songs. However, I’m willing to let that minor criticism go as the
band have included a lot of different sounds on this album that I
didn’t expect. This is an album that has Heart, Braun and
Intelligence to match. Fostermother have crafted an undeniable slice
of Doom/Stoner Metal heaven here.
These
guys maybe new on the block but this album proves they have the
talent and vision to go a long way in the Doom/Stoner Metal scene.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Travis for the promo. Fostermother self-titled debut album will be
released digitally on Jan 31st 2020. CD/Vinyl will be
released later in the year.
Links:
