Release Date: April 20th 024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Lysergic Ritual: Tracklisting
1.Degenerate Subculture 05:55
2.Lysergic Ritual 04:40
3.Substance Abuse 04:03
4.13 Foot High 04:19
5.Mobile Kill Room 05:36
6.Defilement 02:10
7.The High Priestess 04:43
8.Paranoia Sect 07:15
Review
Aussie Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metallers Sundowner return with their new album Lysergic Ritual which takes another nihilistic look at the world with down-tuned grooves and punishing vocals to match. The album sees the band continue their violent journey into the darker depths of the Sludge/Stoner Metal world with influences ranging from EYEHATEGOD, CONAN, Electric Wizard and WEEDATER usually reside.
The music is full of low & slow and dirge ridden gloomy sounds that match the harsh vocals which blends perfectly well with grimy feedback sounds emanating from the speakers. Though, that’s not say that Sundowner aren’t afraid to play a faster paced style of Sludge/Stoner Metal that builds up to some fantastic riff-centric grooves but still with a sense of aggressive and violent behaviour behind them on tracks such as the excellent title track Lysergic Ritual.
There’s a killer NOLA influence heard within the album and you would be forgiven if you thought these guys were from that area of the world and not from DOWN UNDER. The record maybe full of violent growls but at least you can fully understand them which still makes the record a pissed off album to listen to especially with the great lyrics that accompanies the brutal and amplifier feedback instrumental moments that impress at every turn especially on tracks such as Degenerate Subculture, Substance Abuse, 13 Foot High, The High Priestess and Paranoia Sect.
Lysergic Ritual does have an ugly WEEDIAN influence to it all which manifests through everything that Sundowner performs on the album. Though, the album does have a fine balance of Hardcore, Blues Rock and Swamp Metal sections that allows the record to be quite different and downright original whilst also having a familiar sound and essence to it all. This is one of the albums main strengths that it blends Sundowner’s original ideas with the bands many musical influences into a superbly entertaining experience that is packed full of brilliantly filthy and seedy grooves throughout.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.
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