Release Date: July 30th 2021. Record Label: APF Records. Format: Cassette/DD/CD
Vol. 2 - Tracklisting
1.Avalanche 05:26
2.The Tusk 04:10
3.Speedfreak 03:32
4.Nineteen 04:07
5.Falling From The Edge Of Nowhere 01:18
Members
Ryan Cole - Guitar & Bass
Elliot Cole - Drums & Percussion
Review
Vol. 2 is the latest EP from Instrumental Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal Riffsters Wall which is made up by two of Oxford’s famous underground heroes Elliot and Ryan Cole. Elliot and Ryan are also part of DESERT STORM and THE GRAND MAL. Wall is the new project they formed during lockdown to put their creative spirits into. Vol 1 was released earlier this year to great acclaim including my own review.
Now they’re back with Vol.2 and it’s the same style of music that sees Wall flirst between Mastodon style Progressive Heaviness but with the Instrumental Addictive Sounds of KARMA TO BURN and Desert Storm. The band did ask their good friend Dave-O from The Grand Mal to perform vocals on their kick-ass cover of Blacki Sabbath classic Electric Funeral. However, this is all purely instrumental though the band do bring additional noise and slide guitar by Jimmy Hetherington.
Truth be told, this is a more subdued release compared to the previous EP. This EP sees Wall bring a more Psychedelic and Post-Metal vibe to their music especially on the stunning opening track - Avalanche - which has an early-Pelican feeling towards the end of the song.
Everything is still heavy and it’s good seeing Elliot and Ryan playing music they never get the chance to do with their other bands. I would love to see the guys release a Post-Doom/Post-Metal record in the future and maybe Wall will allow them to do just that.
Second song - The Tusk - opens with a glitchy inspired set of noises before bringing a thunderous “Mastodon” riff to the centre with a DIY Punk Production ethic moving things along. A song with many different parts across the field of Instrumental Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal. There is a lot of “Prog-Rock” wizardry on this track and it’s something else we haven’t heard from the band before. A lean, mean and aggressive song with some great homages to Thin Lizzy.
Third song - Speedfreak - is a classic sounding Instrumental Stoner Metal song and that is quite punchy with its delivery of Psychedelic Stoner sounds maturing in the background of Classic Hard Rock and Modern day Doom/Sludge Metal. The song lives up to it’s name with this being one of the most fast-paced and catchiest tracks on the EP.
Fourth song - Nineteen - is a wonderful cover of Karma To Burn classic song and is dedicated to Will Mecum who sadly passed away earlier this year. Will become great friends and regular touring buddies of the entire Desert Storm family. I saw Desert Storm supporting Karma To Burn a couple times back in 2012 and 2014 and they were both brilliant gigs. I spoke to Will and the Desert Storm at both of these gigs. So I know this song means a lot to both Elliot and Ryan. I will admit this got to me too. I loved Karma To Burn and Wall do justice to this song where I can say “Will would have been proud of this song” and this ranks as the best cover version I’ve heard of Nineteen.
Finally, we have, Falling From The Edge Of Nowhere, a song that lasts under 80 seconds but what a cool song. More Americana based with Wall trying their hands at Acoustic Rock. They pull this off magnificently and the song feels about the right length to end the EP on an almighty finish.
Vol. 2 is another excellent release from Wall and shows that we need a full length record from them in the future. Let's hope Wall and APF Records have plans for that too.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to APF Records for the promo.
Tomb Of God is available to buy on CD/DD/Cassette from APF Records now.
Links
Facebook | BandCamp
