Lowburn - Phantasma (Album Review) and MY DOOM DEALER Video Premiere

Release date: October 25th 2019. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Phantasma – Tracklisting

01. My Doom Dealer

02. Freaks

03. Cloud Valley

04. Walking On Thirds

05. Song Of A Preacher

06. Ghosts

07. Urban Funk Campaign

08. Hypnopomp

Members

Henkka Vahvanen - drums

Antti Vesikko - bass

Tomi Mykkänen - guitar and vocals

Tommi Lintunen - guitar

Review

Phantasma is the is the hard-rocking and suped-up new album from Finnish Sludge/Stoner Rockers – Lowburn – and they make an almighty racket on this album. The album is a mixture of Sludge Metal, Fuzz Rock, Psych Rock and Stoner Metal allowing Lowburn to have a modern style of music.

The album features 8 tracks of thrilling Sludge/Stoner Metal with the band having a flair for creating powerful grooves and grizzled vocals to match. Lowburn know how to rock out and show how willing they’re ready to do this for Phantasma with the excellent opening song – My Doom Dealer – which is fast-paced example of Sludge, Stoner and Doom Metal with a classic “NOLA” approach for a song that’s action-packed and full of powerful grooves.

Second song – Freaks – has a more “Blues Rock” feel with the band maybe taking influence from CLUTCH in places but still playing their own brand of Sludge/Stoner Metal but with a harder approach that you wouldn’t expect. The psychedelic grooves are superbly played and allow Lowburn to have a more laid-back feel to their music but the heavier sounds rule the roost on this album. The vocals from Tomi are quite commanding and very raw in places but it gives Lowburn a very real and human sound.

Third song – Cloud Valley – is a straight-up Hard Rock affair with the band playing a more vibrant “NOLA” style of music. The song is action-packed from the start and Lowburn are way more aggressive on this song and Tomi’s vocals prove that as well. The song does slow down in the middle for a slower style of music and the song loses some of it’s early magic but it’s good to see Lowburn doing something different on the album.

Fourth song – Walking On Thirds – opens with a Post-Doom/Post-Rock style of music which I didn’t expect at all. This was very cool to hear and I was excited to hear how the song would progress. Lowburn play a more subdued style of Sludge/Stoner Rock with trippy amounts of Psychedelic Rock allowing the band to slowly build up an exciting rhythm. The song never feels forced or outstays it’s welcome as the song gradually becomes heavier with fantastic sounding guitars holding everything together.

The second half of Phantasma continues with Lowburn playing their emphatic style of Sludge/Stoner Metal across 4 songs that are just as good as the first half with Song Of A Preacher and Hypnopomp being the main highlights.

Phantasma is an excellent sounding album that will surprise you in many different ways. As the band play a high amount of different sounds within the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal genres that you wouldn’t expect. Lowburn have soared to new creative heights on this album and they will surprise a lot of people with Phantasma.

This is an outstanding album that could allow Lowburn to become more well known within the Sludge/Stoner metal community.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

You can see the new video for their excellent new song – My Doom Dealer – from the upcoming new album below.

Thanks to Mona at All Noir for all of the details. Phantasma will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonuata Records from October 25^th 2019.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Lowburn - Doomsayer (Album Review)

 

Release date: October 12^th 2015. Label: Argonauta Records . Formats: CD/DD

Doomsayer: Tracklisting

1.The Last One
2.Soaring High
3.Do Mi Ti
4.Unreachable
5.Doomsayer
6.Running On Fumes
7.Moonful of Stars
8.Powerfreak

Band Members:

Henkka Vahvanen - drums

Miika Kokkola - bass,

Tomi Mykkänen - guitar and vocals,

Tommi Lintunen – guitar

Review:

Lowburn's anticipated debut album – Doomsayer – is finally upon us. After releasing a couple of well received EP’s the main event is now here. So what do you get? Well if you dig Red Fang, High On Fire Kyuss and Monster Magnet then you’ll be in Doom/Stoner Metal Heaven. The fantastic artwork by David Paul Seymour (whose designed covers for Vintage Caravan and Wo Fat) instantly draws you in. It’s a great indication on what to expect on the album as Lowburn expertly create spacey, trippy Doom/Stoner Metal demonic based FUZZ.

Opening track – The Last One – is a Psych Stoner/Space/Fuzz Rock hybrid with the band creating fast paced riffs matched against a backdrop of ambient space rock vibes. It’s a perfect indication of how the rest of the album plays out. An exciting and action packed ride with Lowburn giving Monster Magnet (Tab Era) a run for their money especially during the middle of the song. Though it’s the frenzied and out of control faster riffs that make Lowburn such a great band in their own right.

Second track – Soaring High – opens with 90s style Grunge/Stoner Metal amplifier worship. The vocals add a sense of unease at times with lead vocalist – Tomi – showing his impressive vocal range. I can detect a slight Dave Wyndorf influence especially when Tomi shouts at the top of his voice as it feels that Dave himself is singing on this track and I mean that as a compliment. The music ventures into harsher Doom Metal realms towards the end as the band create some of the albums more exciting moments.

Third track – Do Mi Ti – is one of the albums epic tracks clocking in at 7 mins or so. Lowburn drift into Prog Rock mode with hints of Space/Stoner Rock playing in the background. It has a slight 70s sounding vibe with the guitars drifting in and out with the vocals being the main focus of the first half of the song. The second half of the song sees Lowburn bring a heavier presence with the guitars offering a thundering experience. This is my favourite song on the album as it’s trippy as heck which makes for a fantastic sounding experience.

Fourth track – Unreachable – offers a more direct Doomier Metal song with Lowburn leaving the Space Rock theatrics behind and even though it doesn’t break any new ground, this is still top-notch entertainment. The band creates one of the albums heaviest tracks. The song offers violent energy with quite a sombre atmosphere towards the end of the song.

Up next is the title track – Doomsayer – and once again, Lowburn don’t disappoint as they get straight down to business with an angry psychedelic number drenched in violent Doom/Stoner Metal riffs. The drumming is quite impressive adding a more out of control and frenzied approach. The vocals are loud through out though Tomi’s vocals get the better of him at times and he loses control from time to time. That doesn’t stop this being another fantastic song for Lowburn to have at their disposal.

Sixth track – Running On Fumes – maybe the shortest track on the album running for less than 3 minutes but it’s a dirty punk based bluesy Stoner Metal offering that I would like to see the band do more on future releases. It has quite a direct approach which fans of Motorhead will get a kick out of.

Seventh track – Moonful Of Stars – is where the FUZZ makes a welcome return with the band opting for a more stripped back feel especially on the guitars. As the riffs have a more down-tuned feel compared to the other songs. Though with this being Lowburn it’s still undeniably loud, fast and heavy.

The final track – Powefreak – is the perfect way to end the album with. Taking everything that has come before it and unleashing one final psychedelic sonic blast of manic riffs. Ambient noises come and go once more with Lowburn returning to the spacier riffs from the earlier moments of the album. It’s another one of the albums standout tracks. It’s a great way to end the album with as Lowburn leave you fully satisfied and hugely impressed in what you’ve just listened to.

Doomsayer is an album that a lot of people have been waiting for and Lowburn have delivered on all counts. Doomsayer is one of the year’s most exciting Stoner Metal albums. Miss this and miss out. It’s as simple as that!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Gero at Argonauta Records and Barbara at Nee Cee Agency for the promo. Doomsayer will be available to buy on CD/DD from October 12th 2015 via Argonauta Records.

Links: 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp