Release Date: November 15th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Passage - The Welfare Sessions - Track Listing:
1.Passage 03:57
2.Archetypes 04:53
3.The Stars 04:31
4.Singapore 05:08
5.Pilgrim 03:19
6.Nico 05:33
7.Recluse 06:24
Members
Patrik Strömberg - Vocals
Niklas Sörum - Guitar
Sven Lindqvist - Guitar
Mats Lindgren - Bass
Vigfus Valgeirsson - Drums
Review
Swedish Doom/Stoner Metallers Altareth return with Passage - The Welfare Sessions that manage to conjure up a storm of OCCULT and seedy grooves that has a grimy 1970’s Proto-Doom essence to them. Truth be told, this follows a similar path to their acclaimed 2021 debut album Blood which is a good thing, as the band have a winning creative platform to build their demonic ideas with. The music has a heavier, fuller and meaner attitude with the instrumental sounds being quite DENSE, MURKY and PSYCHEDELIC with nods to bands such as Electric Wizard, Monolord, Black Sabbath and Uncle Acid never being too far away.
Everything is played HEAVY, DOWN-TUNED and LOUD with slow-paced instrumental movements appearing at various stages of the album. The vocals are clear and crisp but with a DEVIL MAY CARE attitude to them. The production values are slightly more stripped back compared to Blood which isn’t surprising since everything was laid down and recorded through pure live takes.
There’s a classic 1970’s Doom Metal energy to this album especially on tracks such as: Passage, Archetypes and Singapore. The lyrics are way more fantastical which elevates the Psychedelic and Kinetic parts of the music to heavier distorted rhythms and heights that allow Altareth to demonstrate first rate musical solos across the board.
With Uncle Acid opting for an orchestral style of music with their recent overblown record, it’s great to hear a band that sticks to the winning formula of Classic Doom Metal spliced with vibes of modern day Psych Rock that’s bounded by an intense blend of haunting Post-Doom melodies and bombastic Sludge Rock sounds that gives Passage - The Welfare Sessions a muscular flow on the second half of the album.
Classic Doom Storytelling plays a big part within this album with Altareth aiming for a great way of writing lyrics that focus upon dealing with the Occult and Macabre atmospherics which become a huge deal for the band providing some of the heaviest, spookiest and trippiest sounds of the record. Other standout tracks include: Pilgrim and Recluse that allows this record to be the perfect follow up to their celebrated debut album and within time perhaps become considered their best offering to date.
Words by Steve Howe
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