Release Date: October 22nd 2021. Record Label: Svart Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Black Harvest- Tracklisting
1.The Harrowing
2.Old Gods
3.Leaders of the Blind 04:42
4.Reaper's Scythe 04:24
5.Graveyard Sun 05:42
6.Black Harvest
7.Upon the Altar 04:38
8.You Bear the Mark
9.Doomsayer
10.Born to a Dying World
Members
Tom Templar – Vocals
Scott Black – Guitar
Joseph Ghast – Bass
Matt Wiseman – Drums
John Wright – Organ
Review
Green Lung delivered the goods with their 2019 debut album Woodland Rites. The album made a mighty impression within the Doom/Stoner Metal scene with the band’s catchy Occult based grooves and haunting themes. The band are back with their 2nd album Black Harvest and the band have delivered one of the best albums of 2021 with a bigger, bolder and more exciting sound.
Green Lung continue their Folk/Occult/Doom hybrid story with the music perfectly capturing classic Black Sabbath (OZZY and DIO Years) and Saint Vitus style riffs but with Progressive and Psychedelic sounds first heard on their earlier albums.
The album flows with positive Doom Metal creativity with the band delving further into their musical bag of tricks with elements such as Classic Heavy Metal and Hard Rock. The 10 songs show that Green Lung have matured quite considerably since their debut album. This feels like a different band especially how the songs are written and I loved how Green Lung have gone further with their Folk outlook on life with this record.
The instrumental work is excellent with Green Lung playing many different styles of music but keeping everything within the Occult world of Doom/Stoner Metal. The songs have the perfect mix of end of the world Occult based ideas and even hitting some uplifting themes along the way. The organs, synths and keyboards are one of my favourite parts of the album with Green Lung going gloriously OTT when the time calls for it.
My favourite songs on the album are: Old Gods, Leads of The Blind, Graveyard Sun, Black Harvest, Doomsayer and Born To A Dying World. As I felt a more emotional connection to these songs that I didn’t expect with the band even putting Uncle Acid recent efforts to shame on these tracks alone. Graveyard Sun is a work of poetic beauty with it’s folk-tinged lyrics and Psychedelic sounds.
Black Harvest is a masterclass of both classic and modern day Doom/Stoner Metal. This is a very multi-layered album and you will be listening to this album for a very long time indeed. The album feels like a greatest hits package from Green Lung than their sophomore album. The record is beautifully recorded and produced as it perfectly captures the many different eras of Doom/Stoner Metal from the last 50 years or so.
Overall, this is a must-have album and all fans of Heavy Rock should add to their collection. An Album Of The Year Contender without question.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Becky at Pioneer Music Press for the promo. Black Harvest will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Svart Records from October 22nd 2021.
Links
Official | Facebook | BandCamp
