Release Date: February 25th 2022. Record Label: RidingEasy Records. Format: DD/CD/Vinyl
Dwell In The Fog - Tracklisting
Kiss Of Your Blade
Dwell In The Fog
Weather The Storm
Sorrow
The Creed
Spirit’s Flown
Members
Mattias Nööjd - Guitar/Vocals
Nicklas Hellqvist - Bass
Axel Wittbeck - Drums
Review
Dwell In The Fog is the third album from Sweden’s Sludge Metal Titans Firebreather and it feels the band have come of age with this release. With its uncompromising blend of High On Fire style Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves and Monolord-esque Spaced Out Heaviness but still allowing Firebreather playing their own vivid and original style of Apocalyptic Doom/Sludge Metal.
Opening song Kiss Of Your Blade is full of razor sharp riffs that veer from modern day heavy Sludge/Stoner Metal to a progressive style of Psychedelic Doom with gruff and grizzled vocals from lead singer Mattias. The vocals are clean but quite aggressive which is what you need for this style of music. Firebreather do a damn good job of moving the atmosphere along at a stunning fast pace when compared to their previous releases. The mood of the record is quite serious and the album never backs off from that style of music for the rest of the album.
Second song Dwell In The Fog starts rather quietly with a Post-Doom/Post-Rock groove before descending back into the Sludge/Stoner Metal limelight with intricate riffs and fantastical guitar solos which could have been considered too “flashy” in places but Firebreather manage to stay on the right side of seriousness with first rate musicianship from all members of the band. The song has the right balance of Progressive Sludge/Stoner Metal sounds and Psychedelic Cosmic Heaviness that Swedish Sludge/Stoner Metal is becoming well known for.
The majority of the songs on Dwell In The Fog may all follow a similar structure but this album remains utterly captivating with the different levels and attitudes of Metal and Hard Rock that Firebreather employ on this album.
Boosted by first rate production values, the album oozes violent charm and aggression that shines through on songs such as: Weather The Storm, Sorrow and Spirit’s Flown. Perhaps my favourite songs on the album with Firebreather managing to play their own original style of music that sees them finally becoming one of the best bands from the Swedish underground Sludge/Stoner Metal scene.
Dwell In The Fog is a dynamically powerful album with Firebreather releasing their best record to date. If you’re looking for your next fix of top-level Swedish Sludge/Stoner Metal riffs then Firebreather are the band for you. This is an undeniably thrilling experience with Firebreather releasing perhaps another Album Of The Year Contender.
This is a must have album. Add this to your collection when you have the chance to.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to US/THEM PR and Palmer Turner Overdrive for the promo
Dwell In the Fog will be released on CD/DD/Vinyl via RidingEasy Records from February 25th 2022.
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