Release Date: 19th March 2021. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Cosmic Reaper - S/T - Tracklisting
Hellion
Heaven’s Gate
Stellar Death
Wasteland I
Wasteland II
Planet Eater
Infrasonic
Members
Thad Collis - Guitar/Vocals
Dillon Prentice - Guitar
Garrett Garlington - Bass
Jeremy Grobsmith - Drums
Review
Cosmic Reaper are the latest band to join the Heavy Psych Sounds Records revolution with their spellbinding debut album which crosses the boundaries of Classic Doom Metal and Psychedelic Stoner Metal with a heavy Spaced Out vibe for equal good measure.
Their debut full length album is a mixture of Sabbath/Saint Vitus classic Doom Metal passages but with the band showing a modern Psychedelic Stoner Metal flavour which brings Monolord to mind. Though, this album is still great evidence of Cosmic Reeper doing their own thing and bringing a more flashier style of vocals to the mix.
Opening song - Hellion - oozes 70s Doom Metal atmosphere but with a modern FUZZ heavy Stoner Metal backdrop with jagged guitars leading the way. The vocals and lyrics are quite theatrical but it adds to the overall enjoyment of it all. The song is quite SPOOKY and TRIPPY with Cosmic Reaper walking a fine line between Classic Heavy Doom and Modern Fuzz/Stoner Metal grooves. The instrumental work is first rate and I can see why Gabe at Heavy Psych Sounds signed this band to his ever-growing roster.
Second song - Heaven’s Gate - opens with a bass-thumping riff before a vintage Psychedelic guitar appears with powerful drumming slowly dictating the action. The song has a manic claustrophobic energy which reminds me of early Uncle Acid but perhaps more Progressive and way heavier. The band take their time with this slowly-played song and it’s a great creative choice which allows Cosmic Reaper to make this song feel actually longer than it’s almost 6 minutes runtime.
Third song - Stellar Death - sees Cosmic Reaper go further into their Doom Metal persona with one of the bleakest songs on the album. The vocals and lyrics are on-point with a more bleaker style of music leading the way. The song is more restrained but the band do play a faster style of music on this song, Though, it’s the vocals that’s the best part of this song. As they add a real sense of impending Doom and Occult Rock thrills.
Fourth song - Wasteland I - is more of a modern Doom/Stoner Metal flavour with the band adding a cool Blues Rock touch. The song is one of the shortest on the album running under 4 minutes but there’s still a lot of meaty action to digest. Even with this song being purely an instrumental offering. Slow-paced but packed with the right amount of gloomy menace and psychedelic wonder.
The 2nd half of the album sees Cosmic Reaper carry on with their engaging style of Classic Doom Metal and Modern Psych Stoner Metal with songs Wasteland II, Planet Eater and Infrasonic. The second half is perhaps where the Psychedelic and Cosmic Rock attitude of the band leads the way and you can tell that by the song titles.
The best two songs on the album are Planet Eater and Infrasonic which offers almost 17 minutes of finely tuned and superbly played music that will delight both Doom and Stoner Metal audiences.
This is a deeply rich and extremely satisfying debut album that’s bolstered by top-notch production behind the scenes. The album sounds epic and wonderful from start to finish. This is the perfect album for Cosmic Reaper to make a name for themselves within the Doom/Stoner Metal community.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo. The album will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds Records from March 19th 2021.
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