Release Date: June 10th 2024. Record Label: Gravitoyd Heavy Music. Formats: DD
Beyond The Gates: Tracklisting
1.Witch 04:37
2.The Tempter 06:23
3.Sorrow 02:14
4.Overlords (2024 Remix) 06:03
Members
Jon Cosky - Guitar/Vocals
Jude Sisk - Bass/Vocals
Esben Willems - Drums
Kyle Thomas - guest vocals on "the Tempter"
Review
Beyond The Gates is the new EP from Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal Wrecking Crew STONE NOMADS and it continues the same style of music they developed and delivered with 2023’s well received album …At The Gates Of Solitude.
The EP is best described by the band themselves from the description below:
“Beyond the Gates”, a follow-up and exclamation point to book-end last year’s full-length LP “…At the Gates of Solitude”. The release features 2 new songs, a remixed bonus track from the LP, and a new version of the classic “Trouble” doom track “The Tempter” (stream above) featuring collaboration with metal vocalist extraordinaire Kyle Thomas (Exhorder,Trouble) along with the return lineup of guitarist/vocalist Jon Cosky, drummer Esben Willems (Monolord, Slower), and bassist/vocalist Jude Sisk.
The band are in full DOOM METAL mode with their music paying homage to bands such as TROUBLE, Saint Vitus and even some bands from the legendary NOLA scene. There’s the classic TEXAS metal sound that appears within the instrumental sounds with a slight diversion via Sweden with MONOLORD’s very own Esben Willems returning yet again.
The first new track Witch is more Heavy Metal dominated with the sludgy grooves adding an ice-cold DOOM METAL feel with flashes of Hard Rock excess especially within some of the classic 80’s guitar shredding that never feels out of place with the slow-paced Post-Doom rhythms. It can be pure EXCESS and OVER INDULGENT at times but all done in the best possible way. If you want music that just gets straight the point of delivering Classic Heavy Metal tracks with the essence of thrilling Doom/Sludge Metal passages then Witch impresses from start to finish.
The cover of TROUBLE classic The Tempter with Kyle Thomas appearing no doubt was heard within their last album but is a new version. I couldn’t tell much difference apart from being quite clearer and heavier in places. This is still a stunning rendition of a classic track with Stone Nomads not straying to far from the original but still adding perhaps a more menacing sludgier makeover.
Third song Sorrow is the other new track and it’s a semi-acoustic number filled with gloomy soundscapes and abstract psychedelic tones which matches the bleak surroundings of the freakish guitars towards the end of the track. It’s a very cool track to listen to and superbly played but it takes some of the excitement from the record.
The final track Overlords (2024) remix brings the excitement back in a big way with a more aggressive take on the original track. The guitars and vocals are more “in-your-face” and completely outrageous with a subtle Alt-Rock/Alt-Metal makeover that feels inspired by FAITH NO MORE. I definitely prefer this version to the original as Stone Nomads deliver this goods on this track alone. A great way to end the EP with.
Beyond The Gates is another excellent release from Stone Nomads who may have shown brief glimpses on what to expect with their future releases. Until then, Beyond The Gates is a great sounding EP to add to your record collection right now…
Words by Steve Howe
Links
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