Release Date: September 08th 2023. Record Label: Black Bow Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Strontium Fields: Tracklisting
Wooden Satellites
I, Neanderthal
Time Capture
Like A Kind Of Minotaur
Voidians
Zodiac Arts Lab
ARCS
With Dark Futures
Members
Marty - Drums/Vocals/Synths
Chris - Guitars
David - Guitars
Review:
Doom Metal Titans Slomatics return with their eighth album Strontium Fields. Following the celebrated split release with DOMKRAFT last year, this album sees Slomatics in full COSMIC/SPACED OUT creative flow with an album that honours their classic legacy whilst forging new creative ground for the band. As this album sees Slomatics offer a more subdued style of Doom/Stoner Metal that we're used to hearing. Using more Post-Doom and Post-Roc theatrics which you would associate with bands such as ELDER and King Buffalo but still having that classic SLOMATICS sound.
Opening song Wooden Satellites is a stunning mix of Old School Slomatics based Cosmic Doom/Stoner grooves but with their new found Progressive maturity which appeared mostly on their last full length album. The swirling Psychedelics and down-tuned FUZZY guitars are instantly recognisable but it's the Post-Rock inspired melodic tones of the song that really make this song and show you a brief glimpse where the album is heading on the later stages of the record. Marty's vocals are confident as ever with perhaps a Classic Rock persona dominating the way he delivers his vocals.
Second song I, Neanderthal continues the album with a more world-weary and seen it all attitude but still remaining constantly fresh with those heavy Progressive Space Rock sounds moving into Slomatics "WORLD BUILDING" levels of pure storytelling. Marty's vocals have a sense of bleak nihilism to them especially within the more vocal/storytelling aspects of his vocal delivery. Added with the intense cosmic fuzz based guitars and 1980's inspired synths which become more aligned to the classic Slomatics sound we know the band for. However, there are elements of this track that sound remarkably fresh and that we haven't heard from the band before with the later stages of the song impressing the most.
Third song Time Capture is where Slomatics venture into the Psychedelic Rock or Post-Stoner sound that bands such as ELDER and King Buffalo are known for. However, don't despair. As Slomatics play a more gloomier and destructive offering whilst surrounding themselves with a more Apocalyptic style of melodic based psychedelic Cosmic flavoured Doom/Stoner Rock style. The Synths and Ambient beats allows Slomatics to play a more reflective style with Marty's vocals matching the solemn mood of the track. The music is beautifully slow paced and allows the listener to soak up every spellbinding moment of this track. The lyrics are top-tier songwriting and perhaps one of their best efforts lyrically speaking yet.
Fourth song Like A Kind Of Minotaur is another classic sounding Slomatics track with the band laying down the COSMIC FUZZ that moves along with mighty WEEDIAN aggression with those fantastic Ambient/Psychedelic driven instrumental scores working superbly well with the sludgy guitars from David and Chris who lead the creative heavy charge with destructive grooves being some of the best instrumental sounds of the album. With that new found Post-Stoner sound being left behind, this song is for perhaps the more longtime fan of the band but still offers a great insight for new listeners to get into the overall creative Psyche of Slomatics. Another one of the standout tracks on the album. There's more a free-flowing and cavalier style of music which Slomatics haven't played since their early days but still shows a new sense of maturity from the band.
The second half of the album allows Slomatics to experiment more with Prog Rock theatrics with Marty showcasing his admiration for 1970's Hard Rock vocalists. As Marty delivers a more experimental style within Voidians for example. As there are eerie traces of Freddie Mercury, well that's what I've taken away from the album. The music is always constantly fresh and brilliantly heavy with Slomatics merging that apocalyptic FUZZ and COSMIC style that is slowed right down on tracks such as Voidians and ARCS.
The song Zodiac Arts Lab deserves a special mention. As it's a beautifully sung track that is the most Post-Rock based track that shows Slomatics in a new light. The song is quite low-key and emotionally charged and more in-line with being a "MOBILE/LIGHTER IN THE AIR" style of song. I don't know how the band will take to that comment but I mean this with deepest respect and admiration for the band. Slomatics continue with that style of music for the last couple songs. So be prepared for a wonderfully exciting and different style of music from Slomatics.
These tracks are my favourite parts and aspects of the whole album. This offers the best of both worlds that Slomatics achieve within this record. A record that honours their legacy and reputation but also forging an exciting new future where the Psychedelic/Post-Whatever attitude of the music is the most outstanding creative aspect of the album. With first rate production values yet again, Strontium Fields delivers the most exciting forty minutes of music you'll experience this year and deliver one of the Top 3 albums of 2023 without question.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to C Squared Music for the promo.
Strontium Fields will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Black Bow Records from September 08th 2023
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