Release Date: December 27th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Thorun (Unreleased 2016 Album) - Track Listing:
1.Gaia (studio) 04:26
2.Saturn (studio) 06:46
3.Hive (studio) 08:16
4.Sonder (studio) 06:16
5.Thorun (studio) 07:40
6.Wrath (studio) 07:13
7.Gaia (demo) 04:29
8.Saturn (demo) 06:47
9.Hive (demo) 08:03
10.Sonder (demo) 06:16
11.Thorun (demo) 07:42
12.Wrath (demo) 07:21
Review
Instrumental Sludge/Stoner Metallers Thorun were a band who were active between 2010 to 2020 and managed to release some excellent records along the way. The band initially split up in 2016 and got back together in 2020 before splitting up for good. Neal Palmer (Bass) from the band has just released their unreleased 2016 album which contains both the original studio version and demo version.
Neal states on BandCamp - “There are two sets of the same tracks, released together. One is the best version of the studio recordings I can find. Then there's live demos we made previously. The studio ‘mix’ doesn't actually sound bad, but is missing a lot of guitar accent, and is a bit clipped. The demos are live and sound more vibrant, but looser, and some bum notes, usually mine, arg. I'm not sure really what's right or not, it's been a while and tinnitus doesn't help! Fuck it, it's this or nothing, and it's free to listen to on here. Fact is what we really did was riff. Riffs are here. For sonic perfection, try Hotel California ;)”
I was a huge fan of Thorun back in the day and reviewed their records in the past for The Sludgelord blog and I was excited to hear this album and I have to admit this is a surprisingly excellent and superbly involved album on both versions. The music is constantly sludgy with a deep Doom/Stoner Metal sound which can be quite aggressive and melodic at the same time.
The music is perhaps of its time in many ways where Instrumental Sludge/Stoner Metal had a more vibrant and visceral energy to it with Thorun employing a subtle and direct style of delivery. The sound is unapologetically raw with some cool sounding overlaps of Psych Metal and Progressive themes throughout.
The production is sparse and is quite raw with some low volume appearing here and there but overall this is a well put together album with Thorun at the top of their game within the more destructive elements on the album.
Standout tracks include: Gaia, Saturn, Hive and Wrath being my favourite moments on the studio version of the record. And it’s a different story with the demo version with Sonder and Thorun being my favourites on that side. I don’t know why but it’s just how the tracks resonate and sound different to each other.
There’s a ton of guitar reverb and amplifier feedback on this record which Thorun were known for but it was good to see the band beginning to explore further areas of Prog Rock, Space Rock and Cosmic Doom unlike ever before compared to their previous records.
If you’re a fan of Thorun then this album is a must have addition to remember the band by. As they were surely a talented bunch who had some great original ideas of their own making which appear on this album throughout.
Words by Steve Howe
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