Release Date: September 13th 2024. Record Label: PolderRecords. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Vestiges of Verumex Visidrome - Track Listing:
1.Old Soul 04:30
2.The Ogre 08:14
3.The Gods Are Evil 05:08
4.Duke of Disgrace 03:47
5.Old Soul Reprise 00:19
6.Golden Fool 05:39
7.Rotten Tongue 04:59
8.Back to the Mud 03:54
9.John Frum 05:35
Review
Vestiges of Verumex Visidrome is the new album from Progressive Stoner Rockers Gnome and it’s a record that has an outrageous sense of humour running through it’s creative soul. With a bold step at adding moments of Experimental Rock and even elements of Jazz making an appearance along the way. Gnome are really starting to add a certain MELVINS or PRIMUS mentality into their music.
The record never takes the easy way out of delivering straightforward music as Gnome thrive on creating freaky sounds with classic sounding Stoner Metal grooves which comes into play on the stunningly weird opening track of Old Soul. The music when it’s full on RAWK attitude is full of intense classic STONER melodies with a twisted Fuzz Rock adding real weight to the album. The outlandish vocals moves into different areas of delivery such as PRIMUS style vocals and harsher cookie cutter vocals you wouldn’t expect.
Though, Gnome expertly deliver different slices of Rock/Metal throughout the album with a Classic Hard Rock and Alt Rock sound appearing within the standout second track The Ogre. The music is quite FUNK based with echoes of Punk Rock before Gnome starts throwing down a Prog Sludge Rock vibe to the mix which has a slight MASTODON delivery. You can’t take nothing for granted with Vestiges of Verumex Visidrome, as Gnome are always thinking outside of the box and are perhaps at their best when playing a more riff-centric style of music compared to their highly experimental style which is still an impressive and huge part of the album. Though, I’m perhaps in the small minority of folks with that opinion.
I absolutely adore this album and it’s brilliantly heavy and uniquely different from the Doom/Stoner Metal scene which Gnome continues to fully explore on other sublime tracks such as: The Gods Are Evil, Golden Fool, Back To The Mud and John Frum. These are the tracks that impressed me the most and the ones that I received the most enjoyment from. Vestiges of Verumex Visidrome is a technically impressive album on every level with Gnome showcasing a wide array of different musical styles that moves between the finer points of Experimental Rock/Metal whilst applying a Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal sound into the complete mix.
Gnome have released their most brilliantly entertaining record with Vestiges of Verumex Visidrome and I can see why it’s causing quite a stir within the underground scene. There’s nothing quite like this album that you can compare this to currently within the Doom/Stoner scene. And this also allows Gnome to be considered a highly original and perhaps groundbreaking band within their own right.
If you want a completely crazy and surreal audio experience then Vestiges of Verumex Visidrome has all bases covered.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to PolderRecords for the promo.
Vestiges of Verumex Visidrome is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via PolderRecords.
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