Release
date: April 3rd
2020. Label: APF
Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Compelled
To Repeat
– Tracklisting
1.Blood
Moon 04:32
2.Anaesthete
04:04
3.The
Cadaver Speaks 03:12
4.Black
Cloud 05:18
5.Trepanned
Head Stares At The Sun 03:30
6.Custody
Of The Eyes 00:24
7.Tenantless
The Graves 04:36
8.Matryoshka
Brain 04:25
9.Compelled
To Repeat 05:23
Members
C.M.
Davis - vox / bass
A.
I. Whitworth - guitar
J.W.
Leyland - guitar / backing vox
B.M.S.
Sautier - drums
Review
Compelled
To Repeat is the new album from UK Sludge/Doom Metal sluggers –
BEGGAR – and it’s perhaps one of the heaviest and bleakest albums
I’ve heard this year. BEGGAR create a powerful slab of Doom and
Sludge Metal with a dark and bleak mentality to it all. This album
isn’t afraid to shy away from life’s harsh realities and that’s
down to the bleak lyrics the band have written for this album and the
harsh vocals from C.M. Davis.
Though
BEGGAR do show a lot of groove mentality within their music that
allows the band to play some epic riffs throughout the album and
adapt a more Post-Metallic feel to their music. The music is always
constantly evolving and shows the band have a fine creative grasp on
this album.
Opening
song – Blood Moon – sees the band play an interesting mix of Doom
Metal, Sludge Metal, Progressive Metal and Atmospheric Post-Metal for
a more rounded sound. The band have a more Death/Thrash based
approach on their music but they’re not afraid to play a more
refined style of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. The bleak lyrics and
violent growls are consistently violent throughout this album and
this song does a fine job on what to expect for the rest of the
album.
Second
song – Anaesthete – is another chance for BEGGAR to play their
bombastic style of Doom/Sludge/Post-Metal but with a stirring social
conscience to it all. The song does have a cool Post-Apocalyptic feel
to it but it’s the use of Groove Metal and Heavy Metal that really
stands out as I didn’t expect the different styles of music that
the band employ for this album and especially this song. The harsh
Psychedelic sounds give a more primal feel to the album.
BEGGAR
continue to impress even further on songs such as: The Cadaver
Speaks, Black Cloud, Tenantless The Graves and the standout title
track of Compelled To Repeat. These are perhaps the best part of the
album where BEGGAR impress with impressive bleak sounds and epic
grooves that show what a force of nature the band can actually be.
BEGGAR
remind me of GOJIRA in many ways. Especially how the band use
different musical genres to get their hard-hitting social message
across though they add the legendary swagger of IRON MONKEY to their
music and that makes up for a very powerful combination.
My
final thoughts on Compelled To Repeat is that BEGGAR have released a
challenging and quite complex album but one that is a thrilling and
action-packed listen that pushes the boundaries of Sludge Metal into
a more exciting style of Extreme Metal.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Lisa at Hold Tight PR for the promo. Compelled To Repeat is
available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via APF Records.
Links:
