Release Date: September 11th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Permian - Tracklist
1.Deeply Divided 02:34
2.The Age of Sin
3.And All Are Anointed by God
4.Suspended
5.Lone Rider
6.Permian 06:32
7.Thine Right Eye
8.This Will Not End Peacefully
9.Reset The Future
Review
Problem With Dragons offer another warped slice of modern Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal with Prog Metal movements on their latest record Permian. This gives the band the freedom to do whatever they want as they continue that great run of developing slightly off-beat fractured songs that have a killer FAITH NO MORE influence to them. The band add a heavier downbeat style to their music with freaky psychedelic grooves that transform into a sublime Industrial Doomed Out theme which has been a major aspect of their music for the last decade or so.
Problem WIth Dragons adds free-flowing sonic and ambient beats along the way as Permian taps right into a classic Science Fiction feel compared to their previous albums. The sludgy sounds are quite anthemic with a frightening real life focus coming into play on tracks such as Deeply Divided, The Age Of Sin and And All Are Anointed by God setting the scene for a sudden shift into real Apocalyptic surroundings.
Some sections of the album once again sees Problem With Dragons merge Prog Metal ideology against the modern Sludge/Stoner Metal melodies where things feel quite disjointed and switched off from the modern day world. The whole things is wonderfully fucking weird which isn’t a big shock to me but it’s how dark Problem With Dragons have become with some of they lyrics contained on the album and also how experimental they are with certain sound effects.
There is a frenzied and pissed off approach with how the band deliver their music as well by applying a fuzz metal structure to the album with a violent COSMIC DOOM story line becoming more real with each passing moment. However, the guys always allow the listener to be fully part of the whole experience which becomes more powerful within the down-tuned, stripped back and droned out soundscapes that offer a trippy nightmarish presence to fully emerge from behind the scenes.
The ELECTRONIC and GLITCHY beats can be quite jarring and unsettling but that’s possibly the point why they’ve been included here as Problem With Dragons create a disturbing experience within the intense riff-centric Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves that appear here. There’s also some wicked DOOM-POP and RADIO FRIENDLY METAL sounding parts included on this record which is one of my favourite aspects on the whole album.
Permian feels like a message is being sent into the COSMOS from humanity after it’s completely destroyed itself with each song telling the listener what happened. The end result is very non-linear and is perhaps down to the listener’s imagination to fully piece everything together. If you’’re only here for the music itself then Problem With Dragons never disappoint in that score especially if you’re a fan of the likes of MASTODON, BARONESS, SOUNDGARDEN, FAITH NO MORE and MONSTER MAGNET.
The record is an extraordinary “AUDIO” experience as there’s not many bands like Problem With Dragons who can create different PSYCHEDELIC and SPACED OUT frequencies that are set against a backdrop of classic WEEDIAN grooves. The lyrics and vocals are equally inventive which once again has been a major part of the band’s success over the years especially on tracks Suspended, Lone Rider, Permian, Thine Right Eye and Reset The Future.
Some folks may be put off by the sheer schizophrenic nature of how the music is delivered but that's a great thing about Problem With Dragons, as they're always thinking outside the box where not many bands can possibly create or fully touch.
Problem With Dragons have delivered goods yet again with another first rate and classic sounding record that’s full of brilliant songs from start to finish that manages to bring something cool and unique to the party.
Words by Steve Howe
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