Monday, 22 June 2020

LáGoon - Father Of Death (Album Review)


Release date: June 19th 2020. Label: Interstellar Smoke Records & Forbidden Place Records. Format: DD

Father Of Death – Tracklisting

1.Father of Death 04:56
2.Resuscitation 06:53
3.Bloodied Mouth 03:38
4.Broken Oath 04:16
5.Stab & Cut 06:15

Members

Guitar/Vocals - Anthony Gaglia
Bass - Ignacio De Tommaso (Luciferica)
Drums - Brady Maurer

Review

LáGoon are not messing about with their new album – Father Of Death. The band recorded this album during the current COVID-19 Pandemic and recruited a new member to their ranks with Ignacio De Tommaso joining all the way over from Buenos Aires. Ignacio is part of the fantastic Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal Band Luciferica who are worth checking out in their own right.

Anyway, back to Father Of Death. This is also the 2nd album that LáGoon have released in 2020 and it’s another slice of raw-sounding Punk/Sludge/Stoner Metal with a Skate Rock attitude that’s been held on every album the band have released. This album is perhaps their most Doomiest offering to date and adding Ignacio allows the band to play a more focused and aggressive sound. The bass is quite prominent on this record and the band maybe much better proposition as 3 piece band. Though, I’m huge admirer of LáGoon’s back catalogue.

This record only lasts 25 minutes but it’s LáGoon doing what they do best and that’s playing aggressive fuelled Punk/Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves with a social conscience hidden with their lyrics. The music is more stripped back and that’s perhaps down to the album being recorded separately by the band members and that’s no bad thing. This is still a quality sounding album with LáGoon impressing on all fronts.

The standout songs are: Resuscitation, Broken Oath and Stab & Cut. With LáGoon playing some epic guitar riffs that lean on the more Progressive side especially on Resuscitation. The band have fully embraced their more creative side on this record and adding some really intense dark moments to the album as well. Despite the short running time, LáGoon cover a lot of ground here which will have long-time fans and potential new fans coming back for more.

Father Of Death is LáGoon’s best offering to date but I’ve said that for each record they’ve released and that’s a good sign. As the band are constantly changing their ideas and becoming better musicians as well. The album is aided along by fantastic production which brings a true PUNK ROCK feel to LáGoon’s overall sound.

LáGoon are proving once again why they’re one of the best upcoming bands within the Stoner Rock/Metal scene and even the Skate Rock community. I wouldn’t be surprised if these guys already have plans to release another album later this year. Though, if not Father Of Death is another excellent record from LáGoon.

Words by Steve Howe

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