Release
date: May
31st
2018.
Label: APF
Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Feral
– Tracklisting
1.Curse
Of The Sun
2.Feral
3.Swarm
4.The
War Is Never Over
5.Culture
Of Ruin
6.Feed
7.Shallow
Fate
Members
Drian
Nash - Vocals
Lewis
Atkinson - Guitar
John
Carberry - Bass
Hayley
McIntyre - Drums
Review
Nomad
become of age with their debut full length album – Feral. The band
have played a wide range of heavyweight Sludge/Doom Metal bands over
the years such as CONAN, Church Of Misery, Raging Speedhorn,
Bongripper and Dopethrone. A mighty impressive list by anyone’s
standards. Though Feral sees Nomad playing their own highly volatile
of Sludge/Doom Metal.
The
first thing that stands out the most from the beginning is the vocals
from Drain Nash. As he puts in a commanding performance on the
excellent opening track – Curse Of The Son. The song starts really
slowly but soon builds up to a heavy monolithic Doom based
atmosphere. The sludgy guitars from Lewis Atkinson offer a raw honest
feel with John and Hayley providing superb support on bass and drums
respectively. Once Nomad settle into an almighty progressive groove
the band start adding little elements of Psychedelic sounds here and
there.
Feral
does show Nomad’s deep respect for the legendary NOLA scene. As the
album feels straight out of New Orleans and not Manchester, England
where the band is from. Nomad excel the most on the more progressive
and lengthier songs on the album with songs such as Swarm, Culture Of
Pain and Shallow Fate exciting me the most. As these tracks sees
Nomad create bleak distorted sludge/doom metal riffs that take time
to fully flesh out and demolish the listener’s take on reality.
Though
the shorter songs on the album are just as good with Feral, The War
Is Never Over and Feed being constantly threatening and engaging with
the different sounds that Nomad possess and play with superb
precision.
I
was expecting Feral to be a heavy onslaught of brutal vocals and
riffs and truth be told Feral does contain both of those things.
However the album manages to have a sheer sense of fun and wicked
enjoyment. Especially when Nomad decide to change direction with
their music. As the album contains many moments of Hard Rock, Heavy
Metal and Stoner Metal vibes within the Doom/Sludge Metal framework.
The
production is very good indeed as Nomad sound demonically pissed off
throughout the entire album.
Nomad
have been paying their dues and proving their worth within the UK
Heavy Metal Underground over the last few years. Now it’s time for
Nomad to reap their rewards of their continuous hard work and graft.
As Feral has the potential to move Nomad onto the next level by
playing some of the more prestigious European Doom/Sludge/Stoner
Metal festivals.
Overall,
Feral is a thrilling album and I recommend you all to take notice of
Nomad as they’ve released a MONSTER OF AN ALBUM. No question….
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to APF Records and Curtis at Dewar PR for the promo. Feral will be
available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from APF Records from May 31st
2018.
Links:
