Release
date: March 27th
2020. Label: Suicide
Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
The
Trail
– Tracklisting
1.Cougar
Charmer
2.Filthy
as Charged
3.Hardship
4.Elevation
5.Shapeshifting
Serpents
6.Flood
7.Fountain
of Acid
8.Cougar
Charmer (Reprise)
9.The
Trail
10.We
Have to Kill
Members
JAAKKO
HEINONEN
EETU
LEHTINEN
LAURI
PIKKA
TONI
RAUKOLA
Review
The
Trail is Demonic Death Judge 5th album and it’s quite
possibly their most experimental and varied offering to date and
that’s saying something about this great band. As DDJ have never
been afraid to change musical style of direction whilst remaining in
the confinements of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal. This new album
changes that slightly by allowing the band to adapt different aspects
to their music.
The
Trail maybe not as easy or accessible to listen as their past efforts
such as Seaweed but it doesn’t make it any less captivating as
such. This album still has DDJ’s trademark riffs buried within but
allows to be more creative with their music.
Opening
song – Cougar Charmer – is more of an Acoustic offering with
elements of Americana style melodic rock being played at a slow pace.
It’s not the most exciting songs to open the album with but things
can change in a heartbeat on this album and they do with the next
song.
Second
song – Filthy As Charged – is what we come to expect from DDJ
with the heavy Progressive Sludge/Stoner sounds with a harsh Doom
Metal vibe allowing the band to play a heavier style of music. The
band switch things up by adding a more riffier style of music that we
haven’t heard before. It’s a good change of pace and shows you as
a good indicator this album is going to be way different to what DDJ
have released in the past. The trippy Stoner interludes are another
cool touch but it’s the heavy sounds that instantly grab your
attention and leave you wanting more.
Third
song – Hardship – carries on the harsh vocals and Post-Doom based
guitar sounds for a song that perfectly drifts from one heavy
environment to the net whilst retaining a solid melodic groove. The
distorted guitars have an almost Industrial feel to them and DDJ
start to add a more commanding presence to their music. Wait till you
hear the trippy and experimental guitars towards the end of the song
that feel like they quite different to what the band have performed
in the past.
Fourth song – Elevation – opens with a 70s Hard Rock riff before the band start laying down their heavy down-tuned Doom/Sludge/Stoner guitar sounds. The atmosphere is less chaotic on this song and has a more organic feel. This is one of my favourite songs on the album with DDJ taking their time on this song and allowing the listener to feel part of the song. The heavy growls are still present but the guitars have a cool Post-Rock melodic flow to them.
There
are 10 songs on this album and unfortunately I can’t go through
describing everyone. All I can say is the remaining 6 songs are just
as good and as challenging as the 4 songs I’ve reviewed here.
Demonic Death Judge still play a wide range of different sounds on
this album. Some of them are quite challenging at first. As you
wouldn’t expect DDJ to go down that route but overall it works and
this allows The Trail to perhaps be Demonic Death Judge most creative
album to date.
Other
cool songs to check out are: Shapeshifting Serpents, Flood, Fountain
Of Acid and The Trail. As I feel this is where long time fans will
enjoy the most. As they contain the most heaviest grooves on the
album and perhaps some of the most recognizable aspects of Demonic
Death Judge.
Overall,
The Trail is an expertly produced album and one that will keep their
fan-base happy for a long time to come. This is another excellent
album from Demonic Death Judge and another great addition to their celebrated back catalogue.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Demonic
Death Judge and Viral
Propaganda PR
The
Trail
is available to buy on
CD/DD/Vinyl via Suicide Records from March 27th
2020.
Links:
