Release Date: June 06th 2025. Record Label: Dipterid Records. Formats: DD
MORDBEAR - Tracklisting
1. Like the Dead
2. A Mirror with a Sea of Flames
3. The Alchemist
Members
Tyler Balthaser (guitars, vocals)
Nico Martinez (bass)
Erik Larson (drums)
Review
MORDBEAR is a Doom/Stoner Metal band from Portland, Oregon and their debut self-titled EP is easily comparable to the likes of Black Sabbath, SLEEP, OM and Acrimony. There’s a subdued atmosphere that first appears within the opening track Like The Dead with MORDBEAR supremely becoming confident with each passing moment. The sound is quite melodic and brings a classic 1990’s Stoner Rock/Metal sound into the slight Proto-Doom attitude that also appears within MORDBEAR’s delivery.
The EP allows MORDBEAR to showcase their fine style of Hard Rock delivery with some classic guitar shredding set against a backdrop of gloomy instrumental passages. The vocals from Tyler Balthaser are quite stylish and even understated with Tyler putting in a commanding performance within the more DOOM obsessive moments.
MORDBEAR plays around with Psychedelic sounds and SONIC passages for the second track A MIrror With A Sea Of Flames. The sludgy guitars make a sneaky appearance here and there with a slowly played delivery that becomes more Proto-Doom riff-focused once again. This song is never in a rush to reach its natural conclusion with MORDBEAR playing multiple different styles of Psych Stoner Metal with a creepy OCCULT vibe appearing within Tyler’s vocals and the fantastic rhythm section of Nico Martinez (Bass) and Erik Larson (Drums) leading the way. There sudden flashes of early-era SLEEP starting to dominate or decimate the musical landscape which results into some of the best grooves of the EP.
The final song The Alchemist is the standout track lasting over seven minutes where MORDBEAR fully settle within their DOOM & GLOOM surroundings. The foreboding sense of trippy Psychedelic grooves and small amounts of distorted modern day Stoner Metal sees the band come kicking and screaming into the modern underground scene. The music is played at a superb slow-to-mid pace once again which allows the music to grow naturally with epic slabs of SLUDGE ROCK to appear.
MORDBEAR’s debut EP is an excellent release which allows the band to showcase their own style of Psych Stoner Metal that should see the band start building a loyal following within the underground scene before the full length debut album appears.
Check this out when you can as it’s an absolute BEAST of a record.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Discipline PR for the promo.
