Release Date: February 21st 2025. Record Label: Mongrel Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Scatterling Empire - Track Listing:
1. War
2. Incantations
3. Wytch
4. Ascendancy
5. Emperor
6. Citadel
7. Absolution
8. Haven
Members
Keenan Kinnear - Guitars
Roelof Van Tonder - Bass
Brendon Bezuidenhout - guitars and vocals
Anrico Jeske - vocals
Jethro Vlag – drums
Review
Sometimes when new band members join an established band their sound and creative dynamic can change dramatically. That is true for Psych/Doom/Stoner Metal alchemists Acid Magus who have added Jethro Vlag (Drums) and Anrick Jeske (Vcals) to their ranks. This is a totally different Acid Magus compared to their celebrated albums Wyrd Syster and Hope Is heavy. Both records received a wide range of acclaim across the underground Doom/Stoner scene.
Scatterling Empire is their new album and it’s a darker and more despairing blend of music with elements of Sludge Metal, Post-Metal and Prog Metal appearing with a haunting Ambient sound holding their usual style of Doom/Stoner Metal together. With influences ranging from Black Sabbath, Sleep and Pink Floyd being heard on their previous records. Acid Magus now turn to visionary acts such as ELDER, Mastodon, Neurosis and KYLESA for an album that’s quite opaque, bleak and subliminally psychedelic at the same time.
The opening tracks of War, Incantations and Wytch sees the band diving right into their new Sludge/Post-Metal approach with a slightly distorted and disruptive melody that allows the lyrics to have a restricted Blackened Doom flow. Though, Acid Magus have still retained the classic Doom/Stoner sound that made them acquire a solid fan base within the underground scene. Just be prepared for bursts for Ambient Post-Rock and Post-Metal melodies that remind me of ISIS in their creative prime.
The album is still quite riff heavy and groove driven compared to Wyrd Syster and Hope Is Heavy but with the Atmospheric Sludge themes and dynamic vocals being the main reason for the band's major transformation of creative change for this record alone. This tone is carried throughout for the whole album with echoes of Post-Doom, Ambient Rock and aggressive Psychedelic movements leading to a wave of paranoia on tracks such as Wytch, Ascendancy and Emperor. Though, I rank these as the best parts of the record. The band are brilliantly loud with Acid Magus creating an exciting new sound for themselves.
The real question is will longtime fans of the band support this transformation and go along for the musical journey. I think the majority will but even better Acid Magus could gain a considerable new following with Scatterling Empire. As it taps into other areas of the heavy underground scene with a sound that can be quite brutally devastating on the later stages of the record.
The final stages of the album sees Acid Magus opt for a more personal and reflective sound with emotionally charged lyrics having a social awareness to them especially on Absolution and Haven. When the record is finally over, you begin to understand why Acid Magus have undergone a drastic makeover and it’s all for the better with Scatterling Empire being their most assured, technically brilliant, deeply engaging and hard hitting album to date.
I’m quite excited to see what the rest of the Doom/Stoner Metal community will think of the record. My own personal thoughts is that Scatterling Empire is another Album Of The Year contender from Acid Magus.
Words by Steve Howe
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