Release Date: May 24th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Astralnaut - Astralnaut: Tracklisting
1.Tipping Point 04:43
2.Adrift 04:05
3.Plebicide 04:40
4.Humanity 05:47
5.The Veil 04:25
6.White Feather 06:57
7.Husk 08:36
8.Confederate (Part.1) 02:21
9.Confederate (Part.2) 04:34
10.Blood Sacrifice 05:20
Band Members
Vocals - Thomas Mallon
Bass - Anthony O'Neill
Guitar - Gary Treanor
Guitar - Jon Joe Harrison
Drums - Glenn Harrison
Review
Northern Ireland Stoner Metallers Astralnaut finally released their new self-titled album which I wasn’t expecting at all. I remember reviewing the band’s previous releases back in my days being The Sludgelord. So this album was a great surprise for me to review this week. As I thought the band had called it quits.
However, here we are in May 2024 and Astralnaut’s debut album is raucous mix of Doom Metal, Grunge, Stoner Rock, Sludge Metal and some epic NOLA based attitude appearing within the vocals and sludgy guitars that dominate whenever they’re needed.
Astralanut play a “No Frills” blend of Stoner Rock/Metal with stripped back production values but this works in the band’s favour. As they play to their creative and musical strengths with the tracks having a more organic and aggressive sound which feels inspired by bands such as DOWN, CROWBAR and KYUSS with Astralnaut becoming more obsessed by Doom Metal legends such as The Obsessed, Saint Vitus and Black Sabbath which you can feel within the majority of the tracks.
Astralnaut do have a creepy OVER THE TOP persona which is quite outlandish within the more gloomier and doomed out aspects of the album. However, I dare you not to be impressed by the opening excellent tracks of Tipping Point, Adrift (which features superb guest vocals by Kayleigh Dawson) and Plebicide. These tracks alone allows Astralnaut to explore their raw-sounding Doom/Stoner Metal grooves with sheer bravado and Hard Rock guitar shredding with a deep sense of classic HEAVY METAL dominance with a fun destructive sound all at the same time.
The album does become more Doom Metal obsessed within the next few tracks of Humanity, The Veil and White Feather. There is a slight gothic NOLA energy appearing within the lyrics and some of the vocal delivery used for this part of the album. There’s a deliberately slow sound coming from the instrumental movements of the album with Astralnaut showing a shift to a destructive vision appearing mostly within Humanity and especially with the classic Charlie Chaplin speech from The Great Dictator.
Astralnaut overs a lot of different musical ground within the final section of the album which sees the band offer uncompromising lyrics and bleak romanticism being one of the main strengths of the whole album especially within White Feather and HUSK. The album does return to the familiar NOLA sound that appeared within the opening tracks.
Astralnaut's self-titled album offers a no holds barred style of Doom/Stoner Metal that can be quite unforgiving and slightly nihilistic for some. However, this still remains a well produced and superbly put together album that should impress the majority of the Doom/Stoner Metal community.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Astralnaut for the promo.
Links
Official | Facebook | BandCamp
