Date Released: November 11th 2022. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl
The Sapient: Tracklisting
1.224.7 01:55
2.Eye of Doom Part I 10:57
3.Dead Void 05:29
4.Return to Descension 06:36
5.The Sapient 09:33
6.Eye of Doom Part II 12:44
Members
Adam Mattsson - Guitar
Alex Kadhim - Bass
Derrick Staines - Drums
Review
The Sapient is the debut full length album from Canadian/Swedish Heavy Doom/Spaced Out Stoners Eye Of Doom. Taking cues from bands from the Swedish Doom/Stoner Metal scene and perhaps some cues from Monolord, YOB and Slomatics along the way. Eye Of Doom brings elements of the occult, classic heavy metal sounds within a warped style of Modern Doom/Stoner Metal with a huge reliance on AMPLIFIER RIFF WORSHIP and FUZZ ROCK.
The music is LOUD, SEEDY and elements of Distorted Fuzz along the way. Echoes of Progressive Doom are heard within the early stages of the album through songs such as Eye Of Doom Part 1 and Dead Void. The instrumental work has echoes of Black Sabbath and early Black Sabbath with the vocals not what I initially expected but still doing a damn fine job in amplifying the Occult Rock atmosphere. The music is quite melodic despite the heavy seediness of it all.
Throw in 70’s and 80’s Classic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal guitars that merge into extended jams with the delicious down-tuned aggressive Fuzz Rock grooves then Eye Of Doom are doing something exciting to the normal Doom/Stoner Metal template. The Psychedelic and Space Rock parts of the album keep things current and super-fresh.
The whole album has a vibrant DIY approach with rich production values with perhaps Monolord’s Esben Willems having a major hand with on Mixing and Mastering duties at his famed Berserker Audio studio.
The Sapient becomes even gloomier and heavier on the later stages on the album especially on tracks such as Return To Descension, The Sapient and the outstanding final track Eye Of Doom Part 2. The music perhaps drowns out the excellent vocals on this part of the album but that’s perhaps the desired effect with the HEAVY GROOVES being a statement of intent from Eye Of Doom rather to show their sublime creative and musical skills which is shown throughout the album.
With the power of famed underground label Majestic Mountain Records behind Eye Of Doom for releasing this album though the vinyl is now sold out. Wonder if a vinyl repress will be announced in the future. Let's hope so.
The Sapient is a deeply engaging and brilliantly FUZZ-TASTIC release that will appeal to the wider majority of the Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene. With that added first class Spaced Out and Psychedelic Rock sound, The Sapient is an album that really does deliver on all fronts.
Words by Steve Howe
Links:
Official | Facebook | BandCamp
