Release
date: January
31st
2020. Label: Dirty
Filthy
Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Onwards…
Towards The Tundra -
Tracklisting
1.
Onwards…
2.
Towards The Tundra
3.
Expedition 1
4.
Whales
5.
Swim With Turtles
6.
Antarctica Lay Before Us
7.
Cold Waters Still
8.Expedition
Members
Moore
- Drum Grooves
Briggs
- Bass Grooves
Block
- Guitar Grooves
Review
Onwards…
Towards The Tundra is the new album from Instrumental
Doom/Stoner/Post-Metallers Soden. These guys are a band I hadn’t
heard of before. So this is my first exposure to the band and I know
Soden have released a couple of releases in the past. I didn’t know
what to expect with this album but I was pleasantly surprised to hear
what Soden have delivered with their second album.
Perhaps
taking influence from early-era Pelican and Russian Circles but with
a more hard-hitting Doom/Stoner Rock atmosphere. The ambient sounds
allow to keep Soden grounded and never to go over the top with their
music. The album has a lush cinematic groove which allows the album
to be quite progressive and daring in places.
Opening
song – Onwards… - starts very slowly with its Ambient/Post-Stoner
riffs before taking time for the heavy pounding and almost
raw-sounding Doom/Post-Metallic vibes to take centre stage. The song
has an element of distortion playing in the background and offers a
more “Drone” based effect. The song has a good balance of quiet
and ambient parts with the more dramatic heavier parts giving Soden a
heavier presence that you least expect.
Second
song – Towards The Tundra – is a Post-Doom style song that has a
cold and icy exterior to it all. The song is quite unforgiving in
places but the music does have a certain “romantic” feel to it.
As Soden embrace their Post-Metal/Ambient influences with genuine
warmth and affection. The distorted atmosphere rules the roost yet
again but with powerful strands of Doom/Stoner Metal allowing Soden
to have a more experimental sound. You can hear elements or feel
influences of Pelican on this song. Though, Soden play their own
creative and destructive style of music.
Third
song – Expedition 1 – is more of a collection of sounds than an
actual song. There are some cool interesting grooves on this song and
I enjoyed the Ambient/Post-Rock atmosphere of it all. The song is
quite short running under two and a half minutes.
Fourth
song – Whales – returns to the “Shoegaze” environment that
appeared on the opening two songs with some of the heaviest and
harshest riffs on the entire album. The song continues with the
“stop-start” Post-Metal approach which brings a sense of danger
to the album. The distorted and almost industrial style of music can
be quite deafening in places so expect a more rebellious style of
music from Soden on this song.
The
second half of the album sees Soden carry on with their aquatic based
journey with songs: Swim With Turtles, Antarctica Lay Before Us, Cold
Waters Still and Expedition 2. The second half of the album is way
more confident than the first half with the band creating an
unsettling and unapologetic sound that is beautifully heavy and
surreal in places especially on Swim With Turtles and Antarctica Lay
Before Us.
Onwards…
Towards The Tundra is not your typical Instrumental Rock/Metal album.
As Soden take genuine creative risks with their music by blending
many different genres of music with Ambient interludes when the mood
slows right down. The overall sound of the album does take some
getting used to but I gather it’s meant to be this way. Mainly to
match the cold and harsh environment that fits into the “Aquatic”
theme and story of the entire album.
Overall,
Soden have delivered an excellent and superbly produced album that
sound epic from start to finish.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Chris at Dirty
Filth Records for
the promo. Onwards…
Towards The Tundra
Fighter will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl
via Dirty Filth Records from
Jan 31st
2020 though Pre-Orders start from Jan 24th 2020.
Links: