Release Date: October 01st 2021. Record Label: APF Records. Format: CD/DD/Cassette
Behold The Basilisk - Tracklisting
1.Snake Chalmers 02:27
2.There's Nothing Cute About Cobras 06:02
3.Mandark 07:22
4.Decapodiformes 05:34
Members
Jus Smith - bass
Teddy James Driscoll - guitar
Jack Newnham - drums & vocals
Review
TOOM were a short-lived Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal Band from the UK who were active from 2007 to 2010. The band toured often but didn’t record many releases apart from Behold The Basilisk which is getting a spiffing reissue from APF Records. The band is perhaps getting attention the most nowadays is down to the members of the band who went to form some truly important bands of the UK Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal scene. Let’s check the evidence.
Ted went on to join Telepathy and has recently formed Cobra Lucha; Justin found fame with psych-rockers Purson and is currently a member of Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, whilst Jack went on to form Old Man Lizard and join the mighty Slabdragger.
Behold The Basilisk is influenced by the great bands of the day such as Mastodon, Sleep, High On Fire and Black Sabbath. Which upcoming UK Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal band weren’t channelling those great bands just like today.
Anyway this is a lo=fi based release with many crackling heavy sounds but with a passionate DIY drive and reminds me mostly of early Mastodon and High On Fire when both bands were on Relapse Records. There is a “Relapse Records” quality and feel to this release and it remains a stirring slice of Heavy Doomed Out Sludge/Stoner Metal.
The EP only lasts 23 minutes but the EP does show that TOOM had a great presence around them especially on songs There’s Nothing Cute About Cobras and Mandark. The sound is on the progressive sludgy side and can be quite ugly in places but it’s one that holds your attention.
Behold The Basilisk is a snapshot of a band who faded away before actually achieving great things but the evidence was there even back then that TOOM were a band who may have gained a cult following within the UK scene.
This release is a great find from the UK Sludge/Stoner Metal archives and will appeal not only to fans of the band members involved but for fans of Heavy Pounding Grooves as well.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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