Release Date: June 21st 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
II: Tracklisting
Harbinger
Maelstrom
Tenebrous
Epoch
Obsolescence
Providence
Review:
II is the new album from Portland, Oregon based Doom/Stoner Rock outfit From The Ages and it's mostly an instrumental album though with the band adding vocals only when they need this. The album has a very mellow start with the music slowly becoming more atmospheric with a heavier Sludgy identity starting to emerge from opening track Harbinger. The mood becomes ever more aggressive with From The Ages within Harbinger operating with a Black Sabbath/SLEEP delivery and influence within their music. The song is slightly progressive with the vocals having a chant-like presence.
The Psychedelic sounds are melodic with a hint of Post-Metal attitude starting to appear which gives their music a more vibrant feeling even with the DIY production values the album contains. The music is played at a slow-to-mid pace which suits their Post-Doom creative themes superbly well especially when a more Ambient/Post-Rock score appears with some SONIC experimentation on the later stages of the track. The final part of Harbinger sees From The Ages play a more aggressive and heavier sound which shows the band aren't afraid to add more VOLUME and WEIGHT to their style of music.
From The Ages play a faster style of music on the next batch of tracks with Maelstrom and Tenebrous firmly putting the band into the Doomed Out Stoner Metal arena with flashes of Prog Rock appearing yet again. The extended jams and sludgy grooves are plentiful with the album beginning to feel it was recorded live with minimal studio manipulation as the album has a subtle but highly rewarding production style that allows the album to have a more organic sound. Both tracks have a more Punk Rock energy to them with some memorable FREAKOUT moments of Psychedelic Stoner Metal having a classic 1970's Hard Rock attitude especially when the screeching guitars appear on Tenebrous.
The second half of the album continues with the screeching and sludgy sounding guitars which moves the album into harsher and distorted areas of Doom Metal and Stoner Metal but From The Ages always manage to include a softer approach to their music when the quieter moments appear. The sound can be chaotic, unpredictable and jagged but there's always a great riff never far behind to sweeten the deal with Epoch being a prime example of this.
The fifth song Obsolescence is my favourite track on the album as it's beautifully FREAKY with the Middle Eastern sounds and instrumental jams moving into areas of music perhaps best described as mellow and even experimental. As From The Ages moves from Post-Rock textures to Drone based visions for a song that left me wanting to hear more of this great style of music. And my prayers were answered with the final song Providence.
Providence opens with a semi acoustic style of Americana, Middle Eastern Sounds and Lo-fi and continues until the dying moments. It would have been good if From The Ages unleash one final burst of aggressive sounding Doom/Stoner Metal but the album ends on a quiet but ultimately satisfying finish.
II is quite an experimental album compared to other Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal albums currently out there. Though, there's a ton of great sounds being played on this album which should find a suitable audience within the Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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