Release Date: April 24th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD
Brazen - Tracklisting
1.Seed Is Sown 03:19
2.Taste Hell 04:05
3.Walls Crumbling 04:24
4.The Grey 05:09
5.Insecure 03:44
6.Holy Rose 06:16
7.Black Tower 05:11
8.See The Lies Away 03:45
9.Kiss The Veil 05:01
Members
Dom Bailey - Bass
Thiago Pinho - Drums
Andrew Valiant - Vocals
Alastair Riddell - Guitars
Review
Brazen is the debut full length album from Doom/Stoner Metallers Flamebearer featuring members of bands such as 1968, Decomposed, Oak, Mourn, Blood Island Raiders, Brule and Mocho Diablo. The album is not all full-on Doom/Stoner Metal sounds with Flamebearer allowing a Proto-Metal and Classic Heavy Metal energy being heard within their overall sound. If you dig bands such as Thin Lizzy, The Cult, Cathedral, Saint Vitus and Orange Goblin then Flamebearer is the band you need in your life right now.
Brazen is a gloriously, brash and highly energetic release that works best when it fuses the RETRO metallic sounds with the more free-flowing Stoner Metal elements into an ORGY of NWOBHM and WEEDIAN heaviness. The opening tracks of Seed Is Sown, Taste Hell and Walls Crumbling captures the two worlds of 1980’s NWOBHM excess and the grittier Doom/Stoner Metal passages with a seedy attitude appearing within the more Fuzz/Psych Rock moments.
Flamebearer move effortlessly throughout the era of 1970s Proto-Doom, 1980’s NWOBHM and 1990’s Stoner Metal with subtle aggression and brash instrumental melodies. Shades of Blues Rock guitars make a welcome appearance before the band explore their Classic Rock sensibilities even further with first rate guitar solos along the way. The vocals expertly delivered with a dominant Heavy Metal delivery becoming slightly Occult Rock at certain times before returning to the standard Hard Rock/Stoner based template which can also be quite demonic in places.
Other standout tracks include The Grey, Insecure, Holy Rose, The Holy Tower, Black Tower and Kiss The Veil which sees Flamebearer bring a rebellious and outlaw-ish streak to their music. The music can be too RETRO at times but when matched against the more modern day Stoner Rock/Metal instrumental passages then the band find their own identity and sound which allows the listener to be rewarded with the catchiest, heaviest and emotionally charged jams on the whole album.
Brazen ends up becoming quite a highly energetic and brilliantly produced Doom/Stoner Rock album with Flamebearer playing to their creative strengths. The record has the perfect balance of Classic Hard Rock swagger and the mean sound of the Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene that allows their debut full length album to be a winner across the board. This is an album that could allow Flamebearer to become more well known within the UK Stoner Metal scene and play some of the best stages the UK has to offer.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Flamebearer for the promo.
Links
https://www.facebook.com/flamebearerband
https://www.instagram.com/flamebearerband/?hl=en
https://flamebearer.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4bRBQal2LOKIOvoZTUOjdq
