Planet Of The Dead - Pilgrims (Album Review)

Release Date: July 23rd 2021. Record Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Pilgrims -  Tracklisting

1.Gom Jabbar 04:22

2.Pilgrim 05:03

3.Nostromo 04:12

4.The Sprawl 06:06

5.Escape from Smith's Grove 03:47

6.Directive IV 03:38

7.The Cursed Earth 04:35

8.The Great Wave 06:32

Members

Mark Mundell - vocals

Malcolm McKenzie - guitar

Kees Hengst - bass

Josh Hussey - drums

Review

New Zealand Cosmic Sludge Metallers Planet Of The Dead are back with their 2nd full length album Pilgrims and it’s equally as groove-laden as their celebrated debut album. Their description on BandCamp describes their music down to a fine art - “For fans of classic science fiction and supermassive riffs.”

Pilgrims follows a similar journey from Fear Of A Dead Planet with the band playing heavy Sludge/Stoner Metal sounds with a Sci-Fi Theme with some Horror vibes along the way. Whilst their debut was a slightly heavier affair, the band have reigned the heavy violent sounds just a bit on this release. However, this works in the band’s favour with Planet Of The Dead bringing a more “Riff-Centric” or “Riffier” style of music on this release and still leaving their Sludge/Stoner Metal credentials in check.

The first two opening songs - Gom Jabbar and Pilgrim - are some are strongest parts of the album with the band moving firmly into a Progressive style of Sludge/Stoner Metal with Mark’s vocals bringing a street-level style of Sludge growls and offset that against the fantastical Sci-Fi inspired lyrics and Planet Of The Dead have a recipe for success here. When the track Pilgrim appears, the band switch their blend of Spaced Out Rock to Intergalactic Fuzz with Mark not getting that message and playing his own violent blend of addictive growls. There’s excellent Fuzz/Guitar Reverb coming from all corners and lets the guys play fantastic guitar solos.

With an album having such diverse themes from Science Fiction works such as Slaughterhouse 5, Alien Film Franchise and Robocop throughout different parts of the album. This is very much a band who pick a mixture of important and not-so-important themes and remember to have fun along the way.

The music is the real “STAR” here with the different styles of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal and the band offering a gritty and trippier style of music especially on songs such as: Nostromo and The Sprawl.

The second half of the album is perhaps more creative with the brilliantly RoboCop inspired Directive IV and that leads into my other favourite part of the album, the final two songs - The Cursed Earth and The Great Wave.

This album could have easily been a big Psychedelic and Noisy mess with the many different themes and musical ideas that Planet Of The Dead have used for Pilgrims. However, this is indeed a “SUPERMASSIVE” album and I was left grinning “EAR-TO-FUCKING-EAR” whilst listening to this.

Planet Of The Dead are helped once again behind the scenes by James Goldsmith on Production Duties and the always fantastic Brad Boatright on mastering duties. James knows a thing or two working with Cosmic Sludge/Stoner Metal bands. As he’s worked with New Zealand famous riffsters BEASTWARS multiple times and I feel Planet Of The Dead will soon achieve the same type of recognition within the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal community in no time at all. Especially if they keep releasing more exciting albums such as Pilgrims.

Pilgrims is an unmissable and superbly heavy record on all fronts that everyone should check out. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Viral Propaganda for the promo. 

Pilgrims is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Planet Of The Dead - Fear Of A Dead Planet (Album Review)

Release date: February 8th 2020. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Fear Of A Dead Planet - Tracklisting

1.The Eternal Void 06:21

2.Mind Killer 04:24

3.A Million Deaths 04:15

4.Nashwan 05:00

5.Entropy 04:56

6.Walk the Earth 03:40

7.Iguanodon 04:23

8.Snake Wizard 08:22

Members

Mark Mundell - vocals

Malcolm McKenzie - guitar

Kees Hengst - bass

Dion Harris - drums

Review

Planet Of The Red (POTD) debut album – Fear Of A Dead Planet – is a heavy atmospheric blend of Doom, Sludge, Fuzz and Stoner Metal with bleak despairing vocals leading the way. The vocals can be more “Death” based growls for some people’s tastes but the music is perhaps the real star here and will no doubt allow listeners to gravitate towards the band.

The album is quite raw and down-tuned at times with a deep progressive sound holding everything together. The gloomy atmosphere is evident from the start with the excellent opening song – The Eternal Void – which has a subtle Doom/Sludge Metal presence and never lets up with it’s slow-to-mid paced grooves showing you what will be in store for you for the whole album. The vocals are quite direct with the harsh growls adding a more menacing vibe to POTD overall sound. The song does take time to fully get going but there are some cool heavy progressive riffs along the way.

Second song – Mind Killer – opens with a creepy soundclip before a standard Doom/Stoner Metal riff appears with vocals showing a different side to POTD compared to the first song. The music is more settled and you can hear a sense of adventure and fun within this song but POTD know how to turn the mood sinister with violent and gloomy “FUZZ” vibes on certain parts of the song. The song can be quite psychedelic in places but it’s mostly felt and heard from the background. POTD add many different styles of music to this song and it could have easily fell out of place but the band play a wicked blend of Doom/Stoner Metal that is quite adventurous in places.

Third song – A Million Deaths – carries on with the harsh vocals but with modern Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves leading the way. The song may lack finesse but POTD bring their own despairing vision to the table with bleak vocals and lyrics being the main focus for the most part of the song. The heavy and twisted guitars feel almost too forced at times but there are some great sounds hidden amongst the aggressive style of music that POTD play here.

Fourth song – Nashwan – carries on the thunderous and aggressive attitude of the band with the raw atmosphere finally starting to make sense. The vocals and lyrics aren’t the best but there is an addictive quality to them which leaves you glued to the edge of your seat. POTD start to play some of the best riffs on the album from here on in and it makes for a more rewarding experience.

The second half of the album carries on the dark and violent sounds that POTD showed in the first half with quite a few epic guitar solos adding a more psychedelic vibe that I didn’t actually expect.

If you’re a fan of bands such as CONAN and Behold The Monolith then POTD are the band for you. Fear Of A Dead Planet won’t be for everyone but if you’re looking for a band who are not afraid to play a more sinister blend of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal then this is the place to be.

Whilst not perfect by any means, POTD have still released a thrilling and hugely entertaining album that is packed full of great ideas and superb riffs.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp