Kurokuma - Of Amber And Sand (Album Review)

Release Date: August 09th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Of Amber And Sand: Tracklisting

1.I Am Forever 

2.Sandglass

3.Death No More

4.Clepsydra

5.Fenjaan

6.Bell Tower

7.Neheh

8.Timekeeper

9.Crux Ansata 

10.Awakening

11.Chronoclasm

Members

Guitar / Vocals: Jake Mazlum

Bass / Vocals: Zakk Wells

Drums: Joe E. Allen

Review

Of Amer And Sand is the second full length album from UK Heavy Metallers Kurokuma and takes a daring creative turn compared to their celebrated 2022 debut album Born Of Obsidian. The bone-crunching and earth-shattering sounds have more volume to them which allows the music to have a destructive quality especially with the dual vocals of Jake Mazlum and Zakk Wells when they appear.

It seems Kurokuma are dabbling with the finer and dark arts of the Extreme Metal scene. They have a fearless creative and Alchemist attitude where they blend huge soaring sonic and Psychedelic Grooves that venture into areas of metal such as Drone, Sludge, Doom, Thrash and Stoner whilst also not being part of those movements either. 

There is a wild abundance of Glitches and Ambient noise effects which are overlapped with Industrial beats and Eastern/Oriental themes which are absolutely crushing, violently aggressive and wholly original at the same time. You begin to feel that highly destructive and addictive energy with the epic opening tracks of I Am Forever, Sandglass and Death No More where Kurokuma starts to have hallucinogenic visions inspired by SHAMANIC attitudes, beats and rhythms which can be quite TRIBAL at times. 

The record sees Kurokuma inspired by bands such as SEPULTURA, Mastodon, Neurosis and EARTH with similar creative cues appearing here and there on the later stages of the record. There’s deep philosophical ideas appearing with the lyrics and different vocal techniques that allows Kurokuma to drift further towards the Progressive Metal sound with heavy extended instrumental passages and harsh growls that add an extra layer of menace to the record.

Other standout tracks include: Clepsydra, Fenjaan, Neheh, Awakening and Chronoclasm which are my own personal favourite songs on the record. As they dare to be different with Kurokuma breathing new life into the many subgenres of Heavy Metal that Of Amber And Sand beautifully holds together.

Kurokuma are at the height of their creative powers with this record and have an intense and brilliant technical proficiency and ability which manifests into the heaviest, ferocious and nastiest grooves of their career to date. 

Of Amber Of Sand sees Kurokuma crafting a whole new genre of heavy metal where only they reign wholly supreme with spectacular results throughout. This is a groundbreaking record in every sense of the word.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to For The Lost PR for the promo.

Of Amber And Sand will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from Friday 09th August 2024.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | Twitter

Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metallers Kurokuma return with new album "Of Amber and Sand" / Share 1st single ‘I Am Forever’

Vicious psych trio, Kurokuma brought a fresh heaviness to the extreme music scene in 2022 with their debut album, ‘Born of Obsidian’. In August the genre-mashing threesome will return with their new record, ‘Of Amber and Sand’.

But it’s not sludge, it’s not doom, it’s not death metal. It’s Kurokuma.

While their Sanford Parker-recorded debut, ‘Born of Obsidian’ dug deep into the ancient history of Mesoamerican civilisations, ‘Of Amber and Sand’ is based on the colossal concept of time, each track dealing with a different facet of temporality and eternity, probing its significance to creation, civilisation and the human experience.

Musically, the band have drawn influence from the instruments, melodies and rhythms of the Middle East/Balkans on this release. Guitarist and vocalist, Jake Mazlum explains:

“In terms of my own relationship with the new musical elements, it’s complicated. I’m an Orthodox Christian from the Muslim world, an immigrant to the UK, and a more recent immigrant to the Balkans, where ironically I feel like I fit in culturally more than anywhere else. Much of my family is ethnically Armenian but now resides in Turkey, where I spent the first few years of my life there.

My relationship with these ‘ethnic’ musical styles is a mix of appreciation for what they are, a familiarity due to their imposition in my life in various ways, and a very conscious detachment from the cultures, places and values that - like all art - deeply informs them.“

‘I Am Forever’ is the first single to be shared from the album with drummer Joe Allen stating, “this track is a mantra on meditation that opens up this concept album on time. We challenged ourselves to write something that worked even with repeated lyrical phrases, so it truly felt like a mantra. Jake had been listening to a lot of Nailbomb and Korn for the riffs, and then our mate, Babak stepped up with a blazing baglama solo. It starts off the album with a bang."

Listen to ‘I Am Forever’ below: 

Or via the links below:

https://youtu.be/e8T68PB-L20?si=yxb4E_fnyhHFaviS /

https://kurokumauk.bandcamp.com/album/of-amber-and-sand

The geographical influences, as well as the subject of time are combined and reflected in the album title; ‘Of Amber and Sand’ is a metaphor the band came up with, fleshed out and visualised in the artwork by Sheffield illustrator, Mila K.

Here ‘sand’ and its abundance represents infinite time, while ‘amber’ represents one moment - amber is known for capturing insects and preserving them. Joe explains:

“The mantis trapped in amber on the cover, it’s been there potentially millions of years, preserved and unmoving while civilisations have come and gone. Species have been born into being, evolved and become extinct - yet this mantis is frozen in that one pose. A snapshot relic of the past to be admired throughout history. This motif sums up a lot of what the album is about.”

‘Of Amber and Sand’ is a much more ‘metal’ and muscular album in comparison to their debut - one that feels faster and more urgent, taking nods from a variety of artists ranging from Nailbomb, Morbid Angel and System of A Down to Omar Souleyman, Barış Manço and the genre of dabke. Joe adds:

“We made a conscious effort to get a ‘real’ sound on this recording. We wanted to avoid any over-production and use of triggers and samples where possible. Saying that, we do think the sound is a big step up from Born of Obsidian.”

Originally active from 2014, the band have been based in the UK up until now, but 2024 sees them very much operating internationally, with only bassist Zakk still residing in the UK. With Jake relocating to Bulgaria, Joe is living as a digital nomad, currently in Albania. He adds that Kurokuma is still very much a band but that “this lifestyle choice was driven in part by wanting to avoid burning out on doing the same things over and over as a UK-based band, and as a promoter. I wanted to get away and see some more of the world, but making this album happen has proven we can still function as Kurokuma while all in different places.”

After the release of ‘Born of Obsidian’ in 2022, Kurokuma went on to perform at Desertfest London, Brutal Assault in the Czech Republic and Damnation Festival, as well as touring Central Europe.

Recorded at Stuck On A Name in Nottingham with Boulty, ‘Of Amber and Sand’ is self-released by the band on 9th August and is available on CD, vinyl and digitally.

Pre-order now: https://kurokumauk.bandcamp.com/album/of-amber-and-sand

Kurokuma are: Jacob Mazlum (guitar/vocals), Joe Allen (drums), Zakk Wells (bass/vocals)

kurokumauk.bandcamp.com 

facebook.com/kurokumauk 

@kurokumauk

Thanks to For The Lost PR for all of the details.

Kurokuma - Born Of Obsidian (Album Review)

Release Date: February 04th 2022. Record Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD/Cassette/Vinyl

Born Of Obsidian  - Tracklisting

1.Smoking Mirror 08:24

2.Sacrifice to Huitzilopochtli 04:32

3.Jaguar 08:30

4.Ololiuqui 08:00

5.Under the Fifth Sun 08:53

Members

Jacob Mazlum (guitar/vocals)

Joe Allen (drums)

George Ionita (bass)

Review

Born Of Obsidian is the debut full length album from Sheffield Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal juggernauts Kurokuma and comes eight years after I originally encountered them on my Sludgelord days. This album sees the Sheffield dirge-ridden heavy hitters bring a more riff-centric approach for this release but still keeping their experimental heavy creative approach intact.  Bringing Sanford Parker along for the ride in a producer’s role, the album has a “major league” appeal with the band performing Progressive Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal grooves from the rule-book of Relapse Record releases. Kudos also to getting James Plotkin to master the album as well. So you know with those two legends of the scene on board, this album is going to sound wonderful from start to finish.

The album moves at a thrilling speed with Kurokuma moving between the different levels of Sludge Metal and Post-Metal with the band evolving into heavier depths of Doom/Stoner Metal with a twinge of Psychedelic vibes and even distorted Noise Rock levels. You can feel all these dark musical surroundings on the excellent opening track Smoking Mirror. The  vocals match the dark musical mood that Kurokuma lays down with a surreal Progressive theme leading the way. The riffs are plentiful but played with the force of “THOR’S HAMMER”. Yeah, I’m being OTT there but when the music hits hard, this really becomes a powerful beast of it’s own.

The music is quite grimy in places with a sense of realism at the heart for the album. Maybe taking influence from PRIMITIVE MAN and CONAN with the heavy volume stakes, Kurokuma are still masters of their own dark musical vision. The album is a concept album of sorts and has an early-Mastodon feel but perhaps harsher and with more aggressive energy.

The other four songs are just as good as the opening track with Sacrifice to Huitzilopochtli, Jaguar and Under The Fifth Sun being the heaviest offerings on the record.

The album is best viewed and listened to as one epic song broken down into individual chapters. Each one brings its own themes, narratives and breathtaking grooves with some of the best bass-playing I’ve heard in quite some time. Born Of Obsidian will take repeated listens to fully understand and appreciate with the record being quite complex in places. Though, Kurokuma have always delivered this style of music with their previous releases.

Born Of Obsidian does have a “CULT UNDERGROUND” appeal but it also has the potential to launch Kurokuma onto bigger and greater things. The guys deserve this after all the time and effort they’ve put into the scene. 

This is without doubt Kurokuma's best release to date. An album that pulls no punches with it’s almost limitless style of musical tempos and changes that all build up to one of the most daring, exciting and adventurous debut releases the UK Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal scene has seen in years. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to For The Lost PR for the promo.

Born Of Obsidian is available to buy now on CD/DD/Cassette/Vinyl

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

KUROKUMA - Sheffield's Best Metal Bands Vol 1 (EP Review)

Release date: May 03rd 2019. Label: Off Me Nut Records. Format: Cassette/DD

Sheffield's Best Metal Bands Vol 1. – Tracklisting

1.RVN 06:52

2.Wasp Nest 04:41

3.Deeper Underground 10:22

4.Wasp Nest (Memphis Edit) 02:29

Review

I'm a huge fan of Sheffield Avant-Garde Sludge Metallers Kurokuma. I've seen them a few times over the years and their live performances are always wonderfully loud, weird and downright original. The band have never been the easiest band to categorize with their previous releases. As they switch musical genres all of the time. Sure they can be classed as primarily as a Sludge Metal band. However, that only gives you a brief glimpse into Kurokuma overall sound. As they play elements of Ambient Music, Doom Metal, Psych, Drone Metal and even Stoner Metal if they think the mood calls for it.

So I was hoping to see what Kurokuma bring to the party with their latest EP and the brash, bold and brilliantly named - Sheffield 's Best Metal Bands Vol 1. The band offer four songs on this release though one of the songs is an actual remix of one of the songs. Kurokuma never play by the rules and you have to "Expect The Unexpected" with this EP and the bone-crunching experimental style heavy sounds the band have committed to this release.

The first two songs RVN and Wasp Nest offer an experimental style of Sludge Metal, Ambient and Avant-Garde music we've come to expect from the band. However, the songs are still quite a violent delight to listen to. Maybe Kurokuma have followed The Melvins and BORIS style of experimenting with different sounds to create a weird and warped atmosphere. It's still wildly addictive with the different heavy progressive sounds that Kurokuma offer here.

The band really blew my mind with the third song - Deeper Underground. Yes, folks. Deeper Underground by Jamiroquai and what fun they have on this song. I was never a fan of that song or the band in general. However, I admire Kurokuma's take on this song. It's a cool cover with heavy distorted and devilish grooves. One of the more fun covers I've heard recently.

The final song is a remix of Wasp Nest and it's a slightly different version of the original song. It doesn't offer much but I did appreciate how both versions sound different to each other. Overall, Kurokuma prove they're not only one of Sheffield's Best Metal Bands but one of the UK's Best Underground Metal Bands with this release.

Kurokuma have released another excellent record with this EP.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Lisa at Hold Tight PR for the promo. Sheffield's Best Metal Bands Vol 1 is available to buy on now on Cassette/DD via Off Me Nut Records.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

EP News - KUROKUMA Announce New EP Details

Trippy Metal Trio KUROKUMA Announce New EP Details

Sheffield’s Best Metal Bands Vol. 1 to be released via Off Me Nut Records May 3rd 

Trippy metal trio KUROKUMA have announced their third EP Sheffield's Best Metal Bands Vol.1 will be released via Off Me Nut Records on May 3rd 2019 ahead of their appearance at Desertfest UK on May 5th. 

Check out their teaser here: 

Kurokuma - Sheffield’s Best Metal Bands Vol. 1

After earning acclaimed reviews for their Advorsus EP (2016) and Dope Rider EP (2018), KUROKUMA's cult-like notoriety for producing avant-garde music, heavy yet multidimensional, has continued to grow. Now, the band have teamed up with notorious electronic record label Off Me Nut Records for their latest release, which sees the label's first ever foray into the murky world of metal. 

Sheffield’s Best Metal Bands Vol. 1 finds the band burrowing deeper into an atmospheric world of their own creation, producing four leviathan tracks that are a consciousness-expanding 24-minute refraction of monumentally unsettled ambient heaviness and blackened sludge. And there's even a Jamiroquai cover thrown in for good measure (Deeper Underground). This is some persuasively weird shit.

The band comments: "It's a product of being on the road a lot more this past year, seeing a lot of metal bands outside of just the stoner/doom circles, and then just bringing in a few influences from outside metal. We listen to things from all across the musical spectrum; lately it's been a lot of electronic music and beats, and that's nothing particularly unique, but we've never drawn lines between genres or been hesitant about bringing what we like to listen to into the band. 

There's a darkness and an intensity that you might find in unexpected places if you're willing to look. Reality is twisted, you'll never escape it. We're taking the weird shit that flows through our brains and in front of our eyes, cranking the volume and putting it on cassette. And when we took a step back and looked at the lyrics and song titles on this release, we realised that, if you had to describe it, everything related to a theme of weird creatures that are misunderstood by society at large, which, to be honest, is a good way of summing up who we are.“

KUROKUMA recently gained further spotlight after being featured in The Doom Doc, an independent documentary on the doom scene which followed KUROKUMA's drummer, Joe E Allen, and featured interviews with original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward, Primitive Man, Conan, Slabdragger, and many others.

Having perfected their engaging sound on stages worldwide from the UK to Japan with bands such as Conan, Crowbar, Trap Them, KEN Mode, Boss Keloid, Primitive Man and Skeletonwitch to name a few, the next few months will see the band playing select dates and festivals including Desertfest in London in support of their EP.

Sheffield’s Best Metal Bands Vol. 1 will be released by Off Me Nut Records on May 3rd. Pre-orders will be available soon.

See KUROKUMA live at one of the following dates:

March 24th, Dreadfest, Leeds (UK)
April 12th, Record Junkee, Sheffield (w/ Author and Punisher) (UK)
April 13th, Replacement Weekender @ The Moon, Cardiff (UK)
May 5th, Desertfest, London (UK)
May 18th, The Rumble At Rebellion, Manchester (UK)

Find out more about the band

Facebook || Twitter || Bandcamp || Spotify

Sheffield’s Best Metal Bands Vol. 1 Tracklisting

1: RVN
2: Wasp Nest
3: Deeper Underground
4: Wasp Nest (Memphis edit)

Kurokuma - Dope Rider (EP Review)

Release date: July 30th 2018. Label: Doom Stew Records Format: CD/DD/Cassette/Vinyl

Dope Rider – Tracklisting

1.Dope Rider pt. 1 05:13

2.Dope Rider pt. 2 08:05

Review

Underground UK Sludge Metallers – Kurokuma – return with their latest EP – Dope Rider. This is a concept EP based on the legendary comic strip of the same name written by Paul Kirchner for High Times beginning in the 1970s.

I only know a little bit of both Dope Rider and Paul Kirchner. As one of my pals is a huge fan of Paul’s work and he provided me on the backstory of Dope Rider before writing this review. Though I’m only here to concentrate on the music. If you want to find out more about Dope Rider and Paul Kirchner then I suggest you head over to Paul Kirchner’s brilliantly entertaining blog here.

Anyway. Kurokuma have recently gained some major attention being part of the recently released documentary – The Doom Doc. As Joe Allen from the band is part of Holy Spider Promotions which is the major focus of the acclaimed documentary. So any new music from Kurokuma is only a good thing.

And they deliver the goods with this fucked up heavy sludge metal assault on the senses. The EP contains 2 songs and lasts for 13 minutes. Kurokuma create brutally heavy progressive Doom/Sludge Metal sounds. Maybe taking influence from CONAN but still creating their own distinctive style of music.

The vocals are brutally raw and real. This is perhaps Kurokuma’s most grittiest and most realised record to date. Its’ best to listen judge this EP as one epic song instead of two parts. The music is constantly bleak and Kurokuma try their hand at different things on Dope Rider.

The overall sound is perhaps one the best parts of the EP. Which isn’t surprising since Sam Thredder (Slabdragger) recorded the EP and Chris Fielding (CONAN) mixed and mastered the EP. So what you have here on Dope Rider is the one of the best upcoming UK Sludge Metal bands working with two of the most highly regarded UK Doom Metal musicians and the results are amazing.

Words by Steve Howe

You can buy Dope Rider via Doom Stew Records.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

THE DOOM DOC (Film Review)

The Doom Doc is a new documentary focusing primarily on Holy Spider Promotions and the local Doom Metal Scene in Sheffield. The documentary has interviews with bands and artists from across the globe. As the film makers interview Kirk Windstein, Bill Ward, Vinny Appice to name just a few. The film gives a brief history of the Doom Metal scene in general with the Sludge and Stoner scenes getting a worthwhile mention. The documentary struck a chord with myself personally as I've met some of the individuals featured on this documentary. I respect and admire the people featured on the film.

The film begins with a creepy and funny story of how Holy Spider promotions received its name. The film then moves onto Wet Nuns and the work of their drummer – Alexis Gotts aka Leki. Leki was instrumental in starting off the DIY Doom Scene in Sheffield and actually booked some great bands to perform in Sheffield. Sadly, Leki passed away in 2014. 

I met Leki twice when he was performing with Baba Naga, the band he was performing with at the time. I had a very cool discussion with the band back then when they supported HARK/Ken Mode in Sheffield and Brant Bjork the following night in Leeds. I went to both gigs and he was an immense talent behind the drums.

The Doom Doc explains the local Sheffield scene suffered as there were no people putting gigs on that time. Though that inspired Joe from Kurokuma and Craig from BA'AL to form Holy Spider Promotions and to kick-start the Doom Metal scene in Sheffield. The documentary focuses on Holy Spider Promotions daily struggles putting on the second annual Doomlines festival. A Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal festival that the guys put in response to the more mainstream Tramlines festival.

Craig and Joe from Holy Spider Promotions

Before we get to see their struggles putting on the festival, the documentary showcases some great live venues in Sheffield such as The Lughole and The Mulberry Tavern which Holy Spider Promotions promote bands regularly. Credit should go to the filmmaker Connor Matheson for trying to include as many important members of the UK Doom Metal scene into this documentary. CONAN receive their fair share of the attention here. As they're arguably the biggest Doom Metal band the UK has to offer at the moment.

The Doom Doc does show you the nitty gritty in running a promotions company and the consensus of heavy metal music in general. Our style of music is not the most widely known of the different subgenres within the world of Heavy Metal. Though you can tell from this documentary that it has some of the most passionate people trying to create new music and to keep the scene alive. The interviews with Kirk, Bill, Vinny and CONAN do offer bleak and truthful moments of what influences them and performing on stage. Bill Ward is brutally honest and it's refreshing to hear one of the greats tell people the struggles he went through many years ago.

The film does include some funny real life moments that I won't spoil for you. The Doom Doc's main subject is Holy Spider Promotions and how they sometimes struggle to bring Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal gigs to the local masses. A lot of awesome bands are featured such as Primitive Man, CONAN, Mower and Slabdragger, all playing heavy riffs and intense live performances.

You cannot deny the passion and involvement that Joe and Craig put into running Holy Spider Promotions. The guys had a major hiccup last year when the original venue meant to host Doomlines II cancelled on them at the last moment. The guys do manage to find another venue for Doomlines II, which was a massive success.

The film shows why our music will never be accepted by the commercial masses and how the Doom Metal scene will remain remotely unapologetic for this as well. The live footage scenes are superb with excellent live performances from the wide range of bands that appear on the documentary. The audiences’ reaction is there for everyone to see. As they live and breathe not only the bands themselves but the scene overall.

The Doom Doc maybe set in Sheffield but it's message and appeal is universal for almost every underground metal scene worldwide. The Doom Doc is a celebration of what is great within the Heavy Metal underground scene. Holy Spider Promotions are the stars of this film and I hope it gives them more exposure and even the bands featured.

The film is superbly well made from start to finish. Director Connor Matheson has put together an exciting, raw and very honest film. The film is indeed grimy in parts but that matches the tone and atmosphere of the Doom Metal world in general.

The Doom Doc can be ranked alongside classic Doom/Stoner documentaries such as Such Hawks, Such Hounds.

Words by Steve Howe

All photos kindly provided for promotional purposes by Connor Matheson.

Links:

Official | Facebook

Festival News - GIZZARD FEST - SLOMATICS HEADLINING

On September 23rd, 2017 The Cutlers Arms in Rotherham. 

A celebration of all things heavy, loud and fuzzy will be taking place between the hours of 12pm & 12am. It'll be taking place on outside stage, under the marquee.

They'll be local store stalls, the finest cask ales, and food available within the venue!

LINEUP:

Slomatics
Ten Foot Wizard
Kurokuma
Spaztik Munkey
1968
Witch Tripper
Under
Ritual King
The Temple
Sound of Origin

Bleeding Tooth
Strange Bru

Doors: 12pm
Early-Bird Tickets: £8 - Buy Tickets Here

Train Station/Venue Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/fh9dUjQEdK42

Local Hotels:

http://www.fernleahotel.net/
http://www.carltonparkhotel.com/
http://www.breconhotel.co.uk/