Doom Of Babylon - Tracklisting
1.Behold a Pale Horse 06:03
2.Bowls of Wrath 05:59
3.Doom of Babylon 05:15
4.The Second Death 04:11
5.Wormwood 04:50
6.Come and See 04:31
7.lood, Fire, and Pillars of Smoke 05:22
8.Pestilence 06:13
Members
Roy Waterfard - Everything
Review
Watchman made an impression with myself earlier this year when he released his debut EP Behold A Pale Horse. Watchman plays Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal with a huge AMERICANA influence shining through. Watchman is back with his debut full length album Doom Of Babylon. The 3 songs that appeared on Behold A Pale Horse are on this record and the songs fit in surprisingly well with the new songs that Watchman has created here.
The full result is an album with a more mysterious and apocalyptic edge. The album is bleak, dense and cautiously gloomy in all the right places. The AMERICANA edge really works so much better in a Doom/Stoner Metal setting than compared to a heavier style of music. This is the soundtrack of the scorched earth or scorched desert coming to life.
Watchman plays everything on this album and his vocals are top-notch from start to finish. The record draws you in with it’s many different styles and you can hear influences from bands such as KYUSS, Black Sabbath, EARTH and Across Tundras. Though, I may have mentioned that in my review of Behold A Pale Horse. Though Watchman ventures into heavier areas of Doom/Stoner Metal, I was surprised when I heard Electric Wizard levels of distorted guitars and even SLEEP style sonic based riffs.
There is a “DRONE” quality to this album that allows Watchman his full Doom/Stoner Metal potential. The lyrics can be quite surreal and you expect that for an album such as this. Roy Waterford, the creative mastermind behind the album brings an “outlaw” style of storytelling with his music being the most important weapon in his musical arsenal.
Doom Of Babylon doesn’t have the usual style of “Doom/Stoner Metal” riffs but long drawn DRONE based grooves that adds a level of intelligence to this album. The Psychedelic sounds and elements of the album really standout and make this record a trippy and surrealist journey at times especially on songs such as: Behold A Pale Horse, Bowls Of Wrath, Doom Of Babylon (where Roy is definitely channelling his inner Ozzy Osbourne), Wormwood and Pestilence.
The sound on the album is impressive with Roy also pulling recording duties as well. There’s a vintage and almost “tinny” quality to the record but it works and allows Doom Of Babylon to offer both a classic Doom Metal vibe and a modern Drone/Stoner Metal experience.
Watchman has delivered the goods with Doom Of Babylon and if you’re on the lookout for a darker and daring style of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal then this is the album for you. Expect The Unexpected with this record and you’ll soon be under the magical gloomy spell of WATCHMAN.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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