Release Date: November 17th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Grimorium Cannabinarum - Tracklisting
1.Iniciación 04:14
2.Ritual 05:43
3.María 05:27
4.Magia Oscura 06:26
5.Humos Púrpura 07:52
6.Hechicerdo 08:04
7.Leche de Hongo 09:41
Members
Jack Amsler - Vocals
Etziel Méndez - Guitar
Fernando Cabrera - Drums
Nicolás Silveira- Bass
Review
Mexican Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers Weedsnake return with their new album Grimorium Cannabinarum which features a more seedier and elevated sound from the band compared to their last full length album. Taking a slightly Progressive and Psychedelic direction with moments of Thrash appearing within the earlier stages of the album on songs such as Iniciacion and Ritual. The flow is very organic with Weedsnake blending tribal mysticism within both the vocals and instrumental work which the band play a slow-to-mid pace style which builds upto quite an atmospheric sound with moments of delicately played DOOMED OUT FUZZ.
The production values are quite low-key and muted but still allows Weedsnake to deliver punishing slabs of finely tuned Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal which they've been pulverising the underground senses since 2011 when their debut album was released. Jack's vocals continue with the style of Death Based Growls which allows Weedsnake to have quite an EXTREME METAL element to them. The grooves mostly consist of modern day WEEDIAN and NOLA grooves with sublime examples of wicked guitar solos and extended instrumental jams.
The rhythm section of Fernando and Nicolas on Drums and Bass respectively is perhaps where the most punishing sounds appear from Weedsnake. The sludgy Psychedelics give a more HALLUCINOGENIC or DRUG FUELLED energy to the album especially on tracks such as Mari, Magio Oscura and Humos Púrpura. Flashes of violent distorted droned sounds appear constantly which allows the thumping bass to take centre stage which drifts from one sleazy downtuned environment to the next.
Grimorium Cannabinarum does have a vintage SLEAZY quality oozing from the production side of things which is also helped along by stellar mastering duties from Esben Willems (MONOLORD) at his famed Studio Berserk. The most outlandish parts of the album appear within the final two tracks of Hechicerdo and Leche de Hongo where a sinister Progressive movement allows Weedsnake to continue their devilish and doomed out delivery of the WEEDIAN scene. Capturing a more frantic 1970's Doom Metal attitude whilst blending this with the folklore of 1990's Sludge and Stoner Metal for a non-stop FUZZ attack on the senses.
Weedsnake do offer moments of fast-paced frenzied energy on the later stages of the record which showcases a more adventurous style of music from the band when the time calls for this. Overall, Grimorium Cannabinarum perhaps offers Weedsnake their most sinister, violent, aggressive and stunning release to date with the band proving why they are one of the most important and essential bands to come from the Mexican Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal scene. This is an album with a real venomous bite which will no doubt go down a treat with the global underground scene.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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