Release Date: January 31st 2025. Record Label: APF Records. Formats: Cassette/CD/DD
Pylon Cult - Track Listing:
1.Fear and Loathing in Stevenage 04:49
2.Chain of Dead Command 06:37
3.Gutwrenching 05:00
4.Tombs of the Blind Dregs 07:30
5.Dormant Psychosis 01:10
6.Remnants of Head 08:44
7.Pylon Cult 04:13
8.Burly Haemorrhoid 07:20
Members
Tom Clements - Vocals
Mark Wilkie - Guitar
Richard Stevenson - Bass
Andrew Bisgrove - Drums
Review
Doom/Thrash/Blackened Sludge Metallers Praetorian finally release their debut full length Pylon Cult into the world and the end result is a harsh, vindictive and punishing encounter of violent fast-paced and pissed off grooves. The record is highly unapologetic with its blend of Thrash, Death, Grind and Crust Metal assault that pushes this record firmly into the Extreme Metal vortex. There are a wide amount of musical tempo changes which keep with the bleak and violent aesthetic that Praetorian brings to the table.
With added moments of menacing Psychedelic textures hidden in the background with Tom Clements downright nasty vocals offering a Grindcore/Doom Metal delivery with guttural screams that could cause nightmares for the uninitiated. Though Tom does offer some cool clean sounding Post-Doom vocals on the more ethereal parts of the record.
The opening tracks of Fear And Loathing In Stevenage, Chain Of Dead Command and Gutwrenching portray a band with nothing to lose and everything to gain with the sheer amount of different extreme styles they have at their disposal. I even enjoyed the dynamic and dramatic shift to softer Post-Doom or Psychedelic pastures before the band returned to the dark vortex of Extreme Metal.
Though that’s only a small glimpse into Praetorian’s creative world as they’re quite adept at conjuring deeply melodic and progressive sounds on different parts of the album. There is deep rich style of storytelling within Pylon Cult despite the gloomy subject matter and disgusting sounds that the band submit the listener to.
Standout tracks include: Fear And Loathing In Stevenage, Gutwrenching, Tombs Of The Blind Dregs, Remnants Of Head and Burly Haemorrhoid with Praetorian coming across like a heavier version of Mastodon and Neurosis at times though with a faster style of carnage being delivered.
Aiding the band on this perilous mission is ace UK record producer and engineer Wayne Adams who once again applies his expert musical knowledge to make whoever he works with sound like a million dollars and that is the case for Praetorian for this record. This is an outstanding and groundbreaking slice of Extreme Brutality from the UK underground scene with Praetorian firing on all cylinders and hopefully building an exciting future for themselves.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to PR Trail for the promo,
Pylon Cult is available to buy now on Cassette/CD/DD via APF Records.
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