Moon Womb - Moon Womb (Album Review)

Release Date: June 26th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Firelight Records: DD/Vinyl

Moon Womb - Moon Womb: Tracklisting

1.Seelie Court 03:59

2.Break Me 06:30

3.Unseelie Court 04:15

4.Senescence 05:55

5.Sanguine 01:36

6.She-Wolf 06:50

7.The Principle of Polarity 04:30

8.Sirens 07:25

Members

Vocals, Drums, and Cymbals by Brandy Flickinger

Guitars and Amplifiers by Richard Flickinger

Review

Moon Womb’s self titled debut album is a heavy foray into Heavy Rock with the record outlining a gloomy style of Drone, Psych, Folk, Doom, Americana, Stoner and Jazz which owes a slight resemblance to artists such as Dorthia Cottrell and Steve Von Till within different parts of the album. The whole tone can be quite slow-moving but also beautifully heavy with the Droned Out textures that Moon Womb splices with deep-rooted Americana Folk based guitars.

Moon Womb delve into a classical style of songwriting throughout the whole album with the lyrics being quite surreal with its reliance on the DOOM FOLK narrative which reminds me of Blackwater Holylight and WINDHAND which is set apart with the creepy DRONE rhythms from both Richard and Brandy on Guitars and Drums respectively. 

The album does have a unique way of bringing different sounding moments of Heavy Doom throughout each song with Moon Womb playing quite an unorthodox style of music which can be straightforward one moment and wholly destructive the next. The instrumental passages are always superbly melodic but Moon Womb can be equally chaotic the next with their experimental style of Drone, Americana and Folk Rock which is put through an intense creative process on the more outlandish and aggressive parts of the record.

However, Moon Womb also show their tender caring side with some exquisite and beautifully observed instrumental Psychedelic melodies which shine through and show their most promise on standout tracks such as: Seelie Court, Break Me, Senescence, She-Wolf, The Principle Of Polarity and Sirens.

Moon Womb debut album is a true original and allows the band to have a fearless creative attitude that redefines what it truly means to be considered “HEAVY” and deliver one of the most superbly entertaining records to arrive from the Doom Rock scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for the promo.

Moon Womb Is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Firelight Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Minimalist Drone/Doom Rockers MOON WOMB Premiere New Song/Lyric Video For SIRENS From Upcoming New Album

Moon Womb is a heavy rock duo from Woodlawn, North Carolina incorporating elements of atmospheric rock, gothic folk, and dark jazz. The music conjures a lush sonic landscape characterized by distortion, slow tempos, and space. Brandy’s anchoring drums and bewitching vocals weave a web of enchantment while Richard’s distinctive baritone guitar invokes euphonious drones. Songs draw lyrical inspiration from fairytales, folklore, and esoterica while they explore themes of nature and magick. 

Moon Womb will release their self-titled debut album on Firelight Records, an independent record label based out North Carolina, specializing in dark folk, psychedelia, and heavy rock and roll. Moon Womb is for fans of Earth, Low, Om, and Chelsea Wolfe.

We're excited to premiere thew new song and lyric video SIRENS from the upcoming new album.
 

The band state this about the song:

"When we are creating new songs, sometimes they can manifest rapidly in hours. Others evolve slowly over the course of days, weeks, or months.  Sirens was a composition that took a long time to find its final form. Our crafting typically consists of time together playing through ideas, and then there is also time apart for both of us to make our individual contributions acuminate. The basic structure of the music for Sirens synthesized quite rapidly. However, the vocals were in constant flux in terms of musical and lyrical direction, but we know that was necessary to get to the end result. Our final narrative took influence from many varied mythologies including the Sirens of Homer, the Mermayde of Chaucer, and the Cthulhu mythos of Lovecraft."-Moon Womb

Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for all of the info.

Moon Womb self-titled album will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Firelight Records from Wednesday 26th June 2024.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Erik Sugg From Doom/Stoner Rockers THE MAGPIE And Owner Of FIRELIGHT RECORDS - Favourite Albums Of 2023

Erik Sugg, (ex- Demon Eye, Lightning Born) now part of Doom/Stoner Rockers The Magpie released their excellent debut self-titled album back in September 2023 to great acclaim within the underground scene. 

Erik also started a new record label called Firelight Records where you can read more about that new venture here.

I asked Erik to choose his favourite albums of the year and these are his selections below.

Human Thurma - "Savage"

A years-in-the-making reissue of a heavy underground classic from '90s-era Richmond, Virginia Richmond gave the Pacific Northwest a run for their money in producing brutal, heavy math-noise. Human Thurma was one of the best from this time and place.

Night! Night! - "Suicide City"

 

Chapel Hill, North Carolina is traditionally known for its contributions to the world of indie rock, but in truth, this little town was always a fertile ground for a wide variety of artists. Night! Night! is sure to be a North Carolina breakout. They aptly describe themselves as "sleazy post-hardcore." Their "Suicide City" EP definitely has some Red Fang vibes, but Night! Night! is a band who will undoubtedly bring something of their own into the world of heavy rock.

David Didonato - "Haxan"

David Didonato holds the world record for playing the longest guitar solo ever played, (seriously, it was 25 hours and 55 minutes.) When he's not breaking world records, David takes his classically-trained guitar expertise into heavy realms and provides one-man-metal-band scores for old silent films. Past feats include "Nosferatu" and "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari". For his latest, he joined up with voice actress, Kelli Bland, for a dark and tasty take on the Swedish witchcraft classic, "Haxan."

REZN - "Solace"

The fusion of ambience, space, and atmosphere into the world of metal and heavy rock and roll is not a new phenomenon, but it seems to be a steady-evolving one, particularly when you take into account a band like REZN. This Chicago quartet plays slow and low, but sings high and clean, and drenches their beautiful riffing in multilayers of reverb. At times there are even some hints of flute and other proggish delights. Think YOB meets early King Crimson meets the Cocteau Twins (!)

Church of Misery - "Born Under a Mad Sign"



I'll go as far as to say this is the best album this Japanese doom royalty have ever released. It sounds fresh and inspired, crazy heavy, fuzzy and groovy, and they have a new singer who sounds like a young Buzz Osborn. Earlier this year when they dropped their teaser track, "Most Evil," I got instant goosebumps and an instant reminder of why I loved heavy doom in the first place.

The Magpie Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Firelight Records Links:

Firelight Facebook | Firelight Instagram | Firelight Bandcamp | Firelight YouTube

Firelight Records: A New Home for Incredible, Heavy Rock, Psychedelia, and Experimental Darkness

Firelight Recordings: A New Home for Incredible, Heavy Rock, Psychedelia, and Experimental Darkness

Erik Sugg, (ex- Demon Eye, Lightning Born) is thrilled to announce Firelight Recordings. This new label brought to you from North Carolina, USA explores heavy rock, psychedelia, dark folk, and other sonic offerings of the ambient underground is just now ramping up. If those genre terms are relevant to you, Firelight Recordings is your next destination for new and upcoming great, original heavy music. Please, read on!

Our Firelight Recordings journey begins with Sugg's latest project, "The Magpie," dropping on Friday, September 8, 2023. The band’s Mike Dean-produced, self-titled album blends elements of heavy metal, post hardcore, noise, and vintage psychedelia in ten electrifying tracks. The band has Erik joining up with iconic punk artist, Brian Walsby (Snake Nation, Double Negative) and Mike Deloatch (Crystal Spiders.) 

Get a taste by checking out The Magpie lyric video for "Juice Glass" now, or streaming the full album via Hear Now. You can also listen to the full glory of the album on the Magpie Bandcamp and purchase a download, order a CD, or better yet a vinyl pre-order with an instant complimentary download. Vinyl copies are expected in early December and are limited to 100 copies. If you dig what you hear, please follow The Magpie and Firelight Recordings on social media, and stay tuned for all of their unforgettable musical developments.

Firelight Recordings:

Firelight Facebook | Firelight Instagram | Firelight Bandcamp | Firelight YouTube

The Magpie:

Hear Now (EPK) | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp

Thanks to Blackseed Services for all of the details. 

You can read my review of The Magpie debut album here.