Release Date: 18th November 2022. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
The Scorn And Grace Of Crows: Tracklisting
Sin World
Viper Soul
Soma Goat
The Crows Will Following Us Down
Smoke On The Bog
Moth To The Flames
My Church Of Let It All Go
Members:
Patrik Lidfors - Guitars
Lars Carlberg - Vocals
Review
Swedish Psych Doom/Stoner Metallers Grandier showcase their own blend of LOW & SLOW style of WEEDIAN sounds on their debut album The Scorn And Grace Of Crows. Taking that familiar Black Sabbath template of FUZZY and DISTORTED DOOM and merging it with that Psych Stoner Metal sound the Swedish Underground Scene is known for. Grandier has a more theatrical delivery to their music especially with the vocals and lyrical content.
The album contains seven tracks all exploring the more gloomier aspect of the underground scene. Opening song Sin World is a slightly Progressive based track with the band playing a DISTORTED and FUZZ based number with a slow-paced style of music allowing Grandier to play extended grooves and jams to get their wicked style of music across. More Doom based than anything with a trippy Occult vibe appearing near the end of the song.
Second song Viper Soul is another atmospheric dark tale from Grandier with echoes of gloomy FUZZ and long drawn out WEEDIAN passages. The vocals have that Operatic Doom based feeling but still having that classic modern day Swedish Underground mentality within the creative themes of the song. There's a distinctive Seventies Classic Doom Rock flavour within this track that works in a seductive way when matched with the LOW & SLOW and AMPLIFIER based grooves. This song sees Grandier play a faster style of music with a cool Post-Stoner or Post-Doom psych based effect that allows their music to have modern day appeal.
Third song Soma Goat carries on the magical Doom/Stoner Metal riff worship heard on the previous two tracks but with more modern occult and trippy based sound. The vocals have a less is more approach which allows the music and distorted rhythms dictate the action. Though, the vocals have a major chance to shine during the slower parts of the song. The lyrics are poetry in places that easily draws the listener into Grandier's dark world. Taking influence and cues from bands of the legendary Seventies Doom scene, this is perhaps the standout track on the album.
The remaining four songs (The Crows Will Following Us Do, My Church Let It All Go, Moth To The Flames And Smoke On The Bog) on the album sees Grandier play heavier and melodic songs that's packed full of sublime Psych Stoner Metal extended jams and intense Doom Metal atmospherics. This is where Grandier fully loses themselves within the bold creative choices they make for this album. Swirling Atmospherics are used to great effect especially on The Crows Will Following Us Do which I didn't expect for an album such as this.
The heaviest sounds of the record do appear on this part of the album. The vocals become a bit more direct and nuanced with the bleak lyrical content that Grandier has written for the album.
Grandier are another band signed to ace record label Majestic Mountain Records who are getting a brilliant and well deserved reputation in bringing the best bands from the Nordic/Scandanavian Doom/Stoner Metal scene to a wider audience.
However, this is Grandier's show and The Scorn And Grace Of Crows is a wonderfully dark and vivid album that packs quite an emotional punch from start to finish. This is an album that will easily find an audience within both the Classic Doom Metal and modern day Psych Stoner Metal scenes. There's an undeniable addictive energy to Grandier's music that will last long in the memory.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Sheltered Life PR and Majestic Mountain Records Viral for the promo.
The Scorn And Grace Of Crows is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records
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