Saturday 4 July 2020

Merlock - that which speaks... (EP Review)


Release date: July 10th 2020. Label: Self Released. Format: Cassette/DD

that which speaks... – Tracklisting

1.idolon
2.prolapse
3.[vessel]
4.condemnation

Members

Lead Guitar & Vocals: Taylor D. Waring
Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Riley D. Moore
Bass: Andrew Backes
Drums: Lucas Wild Barrey

Review

that which speaks… is the debut EP from Psychedelic Sludge/Doom/Stoner Riffsters – Merlock – and this is my first excursion to their trippy and very surreal take on all things Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal. Merlock show a wealth of different creative ideas and sounds on this album that took me quite a few listens to fully admire and appreciate. The album switches from harsh Post-Doom environments to more straight-forward Sludge/Stoner Metal surroundings that make you wonder that certain parts of the album were made by multiple different bands.

The EP is very LOUD and Merlock thrive on that fact whilst adding a trippy Spaced Out or Sludge-Gaze sound that even has traces of classic and true sounding Heavy Metal that helps make the rough sounding parts of the record even more thrilling and authentic.

The EP has 4 tracks with Merlock showing they aren’t afraid to experiment with their music and offering a “Death/Doom” style of vocals on certain parts of the album. Though, there are some truly inspired theatrical and OTT vocals to give “that which speaks...” that something little bit different to offer.

The record can be downright bleak and nasty in places but it’s the huge sounding Psychedelic and Progressive moments where Merlock impressed myself the most. As you begin to explore and understand their music more with some epic riffs being played along the way. The EP is quite raw in places and has a more organic feel compared to other records that I’ve listened to recently.

All of the songs ran between 7 minutes and 8 minutes in length and Merlock have a lot of time to play with to refine and perfect their highly experimental style of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal, The second half of the EP is perhaps the strongest part of the record with the final two songs of [vessel] and condemnation having the better sounds and ideas on the record. Though, as one epic release, Merlock have released a thrilling and adventurous EP that harks back to the early days of Mastodon with their style of Progressive Sludge based guitars and ideas written for this release.

If this is classed as an EP then I’m truly excited to hear what Merlock can do with a full length album. As no doubt everything will be bigger, bolder and even crazier to what is to be found on “that which speaks...” - Until then, this EP from Merlock is the type of record that the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal community needs right now.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Leanne at Mettle Media PR for the promo. "that which speaks..." will be available to buy on Cassette/DD from July 10th 2020

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