Release Date: November 08th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Kingdom’s Death: Tracklisting
Death Is Not The End
River (Bare My Bones)
King Slayer
War Torn
Hallowed Ground
Last Will & Testament
Review
Kingdom’s Death is the debut album from UK Doom/Sludge Metallers Acid Throne who have gone under an Extreme Metal makeover since their 2022 debut EP. As the vocals have more ferocity and bite with them employing a “Blackened” approach. The music moves into Black Metal territory and the Psych Stoner Metal grooves heard on their debut EP is influenced mostly by the NOLA scene and perhaps to bands such as EYEHATEGOD and Soilent Green.
The album also has its fair share of Progressive Metal beats with a dark Post-Metal and Sludge Metal perspective which you’ll hear on the haunting and brutal opening track Death Is Not The End. The vocals are harsh with a gloomy atmosphere allowing the music to grow naturally with Acid Throne revelling in their new found nihilistic outlook on life. The music is a mixture of slow pounding grooves and fast paced sounds with even an “LOW & SLOW” attitude appearing on the later stages of the track.
Second track River (Bare My Bones) opts for THOU style bleakness with a punishing Doom Metal sound that’s cautiously slow with elements of dark Psychedelic vibes and the harsh vocals being more clean based in parts. Moving slowly into Post-Metal territory, Acid Throne wisely takes their time with this song. As there’s a lot to take in with the multitude of different styles the band employ on this song. The song can be quite melodic but with a mean vicious streak to keep the Doom/Sludge Metal atmospherics alive.
Third song King Slayer is a more direct Sludge Metal track with elements of WEEDIAN themes appearing for certain parts of the song. The music does have an evil attitude that matches the killer vocals. Acid Throne adds traces of Groove Metal and even Thrash Metal for one of the standout tracks of the album. This is where Acid Throne starts adding HOOKS and MELODY to the album though the album still remains a harsh, gloomy and exhausting experience but all done in the possible way.
The second half of the album sees Acid Throne venture into heavier realms with destructive lyrics leading the creative charge with perhaps War Torn and Last Will & Testament being the other standout tracks on the album. There’s more Psychedelic grooves on this part of the album and I’m beginning to hear some of the original Acid Throne magic I encountered on their debut EP.
Last Will & Testament is where Acid Throne impresses the most with their technical and songwriting abilities. This track feels like it has come from a band who’ve released multiple albums over the years. It’s a masterful style of NOLA based grooves with the Doom Metal landscape allowing the band to create some of the heaviest sounds I’ve heard from the UK Doom/Sludge Underground Scene in quite some time.
Backed by stellar production values. Kingdom’s Death is an album that will launch Acid Throne to the forefront of the UK Doom/Sludge Metal scene and perhaps allow the band to play on some of the best festival slots the scene has to offer.
Acid Throne is going places and Kingdom’s Death is only the start of their new journey. Embrace The Darkness when you get the chance. As this album is an absolute MONSTER….
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Acid Throne for the promo.
Kingdom's Death will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from November 08th 2023.
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