Release
date: November
2nd
2018. Label: The
Company KC.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Godmaker/Somnuri:
Split –
Tracklisting
1.Godmaker
- An Excerpt 13:44
2.Godmaker
- Over (Portishead Cover) 04:47
3.Somnuri
- Over and Out 04:35
4.Somnuri
- Edge of the Forest 07:20
Godmaker
Members
Pete
Ross - Guitar/Vox/Lead Beard
Andrew
Archey - Bass/vox/Gingerbeard
Jon
Lane – Drums/Commentary/Beard
Somnuri
Members
Justin
Sherrell - Guitars/Vocals
Phil
SanGiacomo - Drums
Drew
Mack - Bass
Review
Godmaker
and Somnuri have teamed up for this superb sounding split album with
the band both offering heavy styles of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal
to each other. Godmaker is perhaps the more gloomiest of the two with
a doomier
and heavier feel.
Godmaker
offer two songs – An Excerpt and a great cover of Portished song –
Over. An Excerpt is an almost 14 minute epic that sees the band play
a sludge/post-metal/doom hybrid sound that takes influence from bands
such as Neurosis, ISIS (The Band) and other bands of that ilk. The
mood is dynamically heavy with the band creating a slow to mid-tempo
sound that doesn’t hold back on the loud riffs.
An
Excerpt does take some time to fully get going but it’s never
boring as Godmaker inject a few cool Psychedelic sounds along the
way. The vocals are intense and very raw but it matches the volatile
doom based atmosphere the band create here. The
song does became more fast-paced towards the end and it’s quite
relentless at times. A very cool way to end the song.
Their
second song which is a cover of Portishead classic song – Over –
is a weird and very inspired choice. As I didn’t think these guys
could pull it off. The original is such an emotional song and
features a stunning vocal performance by Beth Gibbons. It’s one of
those songs that are considered timeless. So I was a little worried
on how these guys would perform the song. Truth be told the band do a
stellar job performing this song and they play the song as a gloomy
alt-rock/metal song rather than the Doom/Sludge sounds Godmaker are
known for. So a very good cover indeed.
Now
it’s time for Somnuri to impress me with their blend of
Sludge/Stoner Metal. And like they Godmaker they don’t disappoint
with the two songs they have included here. Over and Out and Edge Of
The Forest.
Over
and Out is a sludgy fast-paced number with the band adding elements
of Doom, Sludge, Stoner Rock and vibrant Noise Rock grooves. The
psychedelic riffs allows the song to flow at a natural pace. The
vocals are a mixture of heavy growls and clean vocals that have quite
an uplifting feel to them. The song takes influence from TORCHE and
Mastodon at times but the band still create their own highly
addictive sound.
Edge
Of The Forest is where Somnuri experiment with their sound and play a
more refined style of music. Well for the first few moments when the
band adapt a gloomy post-rock sound with vocals drifting in and out.
The heavy sludgy riffs appear and you can hear a slight Deftones
influence with brooding guitars and soothing vocals. The song becomes
heavier around the 2nd
minute and the Somnuri that I loved from last year’s album finally
appear. The harsh vocals and growls take some time getting used to
but Somnuri still manage to create a very exciting song to end the
split record with.
This
split record does what it needs t do and that’s to show the world
how great Godmaker and Somnuri actually are. Both bands play
different styles of music that compliment each other superbly well.
Hopefully there is new records from both bands in the near future as
this split record only leaves you wanting more.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
You can buy the album from The Company KC here.
Godmaker Links:
