Release
date: December
19th
2019.
Label: Self
Released.
Format: CD/DD
Remnants
-
Tracklisting
1.Pillars
09:33
2.Forgotten
Sentinel 07:07
3.Dust
08:05
4.Tides
of Ash 07:37
5.The
Temples Shade 11:53
6.Call
of the Sun 09:40
Members
Sie
Carroll - Guitars & Vocals
Fergal
Malone - Drums
Steven
Anderson - Guitars, Vocals (Bass on this recording)
Tob
Swift - Bass
Review
Remnants
is the new album from Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Rockers Venus Sleeps
and their first new album in almost 4.5 years. I can remember
listening to their 2015 debut album Dead Sun Worship and being
suitably impressed with their heavy progressive style of Psychedelic
Doom and Stoner addictive sounds. This album carries on that early
sound but with a more darker and unforgiving style of music.
The album is quite complex and offers a myriad of different Doom/Stoner Metal atmospherics that’s woven with a classic-sounding Black Sabbath influence with the gloomy guitars and heavy amplifier worship that’s used throughout the album. Remnants weaves a dark tale with elements of 70s Doom Rock/Metal but with an unapologetic modern Stoner Rock/Metal drive that also has a huge Prog Rock sound holding everything together.
Remnants
runs for almost 54 minutes and you’re treated to 6 songs that are
quite long individually and have varying different sounds to each
other. The guitars are straight from from your classic Doom/Stoner
Metal rulebook but the band add a Progressive Rock outlook to their
overall sound which can be quite cold and calculating in places.
Venus Sleeps never seem to be in a rush with their music as the riffs
are played an excellent slow-to-mid pace that allows the listener to
soak up the entire atmosphere of the whole album.
Sie’s
vocals have an honest and earnest feel to them but still offering a
menacing drive to them which drives the narrative of the album to
some epic highs. Sie channels his inner “Ozzy” and “Uncle Acid”
on this album but still providing his own great style of vocals on
Remnants.
The
lyrics are another highlight with Venus Sleep writing some terrific
words to match the almost “Occult” style riffs that expertly
played on the album.
There
is a lot going on this this album and it may take a few spins to
fully appreciate the many ideas that Venus Sleeps have included on
this album. Though it’s never boring and you feel quite excited for
the next song to appear.
The
standout songs on the album are: Pillars, Dust, Tides Of Ash and Call
Of The Sun. As Venus Sleeps feel more in control of their music and
it shows with some of the best and heaviest sounds on the entire
album.
Venus
Sleeps have delivered a fresh-sounding and expertly produced album
that allows the band to deliver their own blend of Psychedelic
Doom/Stoner Metal that leaves you with a gloomy outlook on life long
after you’ve listened to the album.
Words
by Steve Howe
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