Doomstress - Sleep Among The Dead (Album Review)

Release date: May 10^th 2019. Label: DHU Records (Vinyl) / Ripple Music (CD). Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Sleep Among The Dead – Tracklisting

1.Bitter Plea 04:24

2.Burning Lotus 04:32

3.Dreaming Spider 05:06

4.Your God Is Blind 05:50

5.Bones and Rust 06:20

6.Apathetic Existence 07:54

7.Sleep Among the Dead 06:56

Members

Doomstress Alexis

Brandon Johnson

Matt Taylor

Tomasz Scull

Review

Texas based Doom/Stoner Metal collective – Doomstress – return with their debut album Sleep Among The Dead and this album proves why the band are very highly thought of within the Doom/Stoner Metal community. The album is being released on Ripple Music and DHU Records. Two of the best independent labels currently working within the scene today.

You may recognise the members of Doomstress from the highly regarded Doom Metal outfit Project Armageddon and Sparrowmilk.

This album sees Doomstress play a heavier and progressive style of Doom Metal compared to their previous releases The album does have modern sounding Stoner Rock/Metal riffs appearing on certain stages of the album. Doomstress have added a more reflective and personal feel to their music. Alexis vocals are passionate and angry as ever. However, Alexis still manages to show her caring and nurturing side on this album.

The songs are quite complex and gloomy in places and I admire Doomstress creative choices they’ve made with this album especially when the heavier Sludge Metal vibes appear. Truth be told, this album feels like a greatest hits collection than a debut album. As all of the songs are great as each other. Doomstress provide a thrilling and personal experience that you don’t normally hear on a band’s debut album. As some of the lyrical content cuts right to the bone and gives the album a more nuanced feel.

If I had to pick songs on the album for people to listen to then I would recommend - Bitter Plea, Burning Lotus, Dreaming Spider, Apathetic Existence and Sleep Among The Dead. As these are the songs where Doomstress impress the most with their own distinctive style of Doom/Stoner Metal.

The production is superb and allows Doomstress the time, energy and space to branch out into the different areas of Hard Rock/Metal the album expertly play from start to finish. Overall, Doomstress have released a wonderful sounding and highly emotional debut album that you won’t easily forget for a long time to come.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Red Lead Media PR for the promo. Sleep Among The Dead is available to buy on CD/DD via Ripple Music and Vinyl via DHU Records now.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

These Beasts - S/T (Album Review)

Release date: March 29th 2019. Label: Magnetic Eye Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

These Beasts S/T – Tracklisting

1.End of the Whip 04:21

2.Shovel and Pick 05:32

3.Shirilla in a Tub 03:19

4.Fedor 04:50

5.Luke Warm at Best 03:09

6.Impugn 05:54

Members

Chris Roo - Guitar and Words

Keith Anderson - Drums

Todd Fabian - Bass and Words

Review

These Beasts self-titled debut release sees the band play a wild and vivid collection of different styles such as Sludge Rock, Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Psych Rock and Noise Rock. They have created a totally different sound that I was originally expecting. The music is angry and pissed off from the start. The band feel and sound like they take influence from bands such as BOTCH, Unsane and CAVE-IN whilst remaining true to the Stoner Rock/Metal roots. Throw in some Baroness and Mastodon progressive Sludge Metal melodies and you have a band that will entertain you for the next 28 minutes or so.

The whole EP has a heavy metallic rock vibe running from beginning to end with the odd flourish of Psychedelic Metal showing These Beasts are quite adapt playing whatever style the mood calls for on each individual song.

The standout songs have to be: End Of The Whip, Shovel and Pick, Fedor and Impugn. The one thing that stands out for me the most on this EP is the epic Bass Guitar played by Todd. As Todd provides the thumping rhythm and heartbeat for These Beasts to thrive upon. Add the harsh and cool guitars from Chris and Keith’s precise drumming and you have an EP that is very hard to describe but also equally addictive at the same time.

These Beasts also remind me of KOWLOON WALLED CITY in many ways especially with the dirty sludgy and gloomy atmospherics the band use as the main ingredient for their music. The production and overall feel of the EP is very raw but one that’s superb throughout. These Beasts offer a violent Sludge/Stoner/Noise Rock experience that demands your full undivided attention.

If you’re looking for a superbly weird and entertaining record that packs an almighty punch then you’ve came to the right place. As this is a thrilling EP and one that makes me excited to see what These Beasts will release next. These Beasts have huge potential and they prove that on their debut EP.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Red Lead Media for the promo. These Beasts is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Magnetic Eye Records now.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Mountain Tamer - Godfortune Dark Matters (Album Review)

Release date: August 24th 2018. Label: Nasoni Records/Magnetic Eye Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Godfortune Dark Matters – Tracklisting

1.Faith Peddler

2.Funeral of A Dog

3.People Problems

4.Living In Vain Part 1

5.Living In Vain Part 2

6.Nectar

7.Primitive Control

8.Wretched

9.Mydnyte

10.Riff Dealer

11.Head Over Heels

Members

Andru Hall - guitar/lead vocals

Casey Garcia - drums/vocals

Dave Teget - bass/vocals

Review

Mountain Tamer - return with another heavy round of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal madness with their new album Godfortune Dark Matters. This album is quite different to their previous album. As it's a more direct and psychedelic sound that even has elements of Garage Rock held within its musical DNA.

Opening song - Faith Peddler - has a slightly murky and dirty sound but that's offset by a cool sounding Psychedelic Garage/Stoner Rock vibe. The vocals from Andru feel influenced by a wide range of different artists but still managing to offer his own distinctive sound.

Second song - Funeral Of A Dog - is a more experimental affair with various different sounds and genres combining for a psychedelic mini-freakout. The song relishes moving from sixties Psych Rock to a leaner and more modern Stoner Rock groove. The instrumental work is quite OTT but Mountain Tamer makes this work by writing original and highly imaginative lyrics.

Third song - People Problems - suffers from an identity crisis at times. As the song struggles to match the crazy psychedelic weirdness of the first two opening songs.

The band return to winning ways with the two-part song - Living In Vain Part One and Living In Vain Part Two - which easily classed as the best parts of the album. As Mountain Tamer play a heavy blend of Psych, Garage Rock. Stoner Rock and a twinge of Heavy Metal throughout both songs. The songs are very melodic and have elements of that classic Led Zepp/Black Sabbath sound running throughout it. I can hear the band being influenced by EARTHLESS as well. The upbeat mood of the songs is quite addictive as well.

The second half of the album carries on the psychedelic weirdness on superb songs such as: Primitive Control, Wretched, Riff Dealer and Head Over Heels. The album may have too many songs on the album but at least Mountain Tamer leaves you wanting more especially on Riff Dealer and Head Over Heels.

The production is handled well with the band having a more street based sound compared to other Doom/Stoner Rock bands I’ve heard recently. The album has a vintage feel to it but still retaining a heavier modern sound as well. Godfortune Dark Matters can be quite challenging to listen to at times. 

However that doesn't stop Godfortune Dark Matters offering a different style of Doom/Stoner Rock and Mountain Tamer releasing a superbly entertaining album.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Red Lead Media & PR for the promo. Godfortune Dark Matters will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Nasoni Records and Magnetic Eye Records from August 24^th 2018.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Spaceslug - Eye The Tide (Album Review)

Release date: July 20^th 2018. Label: BSFD Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Eye The Tide – Tracklisting

Obsolith

Spaced by One

Eternal Monuments

Words Like Stones

Vialys part I & II

I, The Tide

Members

Bartosz Janik – Guitar, Vocal

Jan Rutka – Bass, Vocal

Kamil Ziólkowski – Drums, Vocal

The Lowdown

They say that there is no rest for the wicked and that saying can equally be true for Spaceslug. As Spaceslug return with their third album - Eye The Tide. This is their third record within the last eighteen months. Following their acclaimed second album - Time Travel Dilemma and recent EP - Mountains & Reminiscence,

Spaceslug have decided to release their heaviest and bleakest album to date. Their past albums were full of brutally heavy Psychedelic Doom/Stoner sounds. However, Eye The Tide sees Spaceslug opt for a gloomier Post-Metal sound and even sees the band play an almost Blackened Doom Metal style of music. Though more about that later.

Opening track - Obsolith - is the type of song that Spaceslug excel at. Swirling psychedelic noises merged against Ambient and Post-Rock progressive elements. The familiar post-doom/stoner and spaced out vibes is still highly original and intriguing. The whole structure of the song has a more drone based quality and this allows Spaceslug to create a more reflective and personal album.

Second song - Spaced By One - could have easily been included on their last album. As the song has the same light/heavy progressive parts. This is perhaps where you begin to feel Spaceslug's overall bleak vision of the album. As the lyrics, vocals and music can be emotionally cold and distant compared to their previous albums. Spaceslug still manage to create a highly complex and progressive sound that will be eerie familiar to longtime fans of the band.

Third track - Eternal Monuments - opens with a long drawn out and highly volatile Ambient/Doom/Drone sound with different layers of noise being added for dramatic effect. The sludge/stoner riffs slowly appear but Spaceslug yet again experiment with their trademark sound. The atmosphere of the album becomes heavier and even more depressing as time passes by. The instrumental work is simply superb though the vocals feel underwhelming on this song. This perhaps would have worked better as an instrumental song.

The next song is perhaps where long-time fans will find the most issue with. As the next song - Words Like Stones - sees Spaceslug adapt a more blackened doom approach to their music. The song opens with their familiar Psych Doom/Stoner hybrid sound before the atmosphere becomes pitch-black with the blackened doom/sludge metal sounds becoming increasingly violent. The vocals are a mixture of clean vocals and pitch black hardcore growls. Spaceslug take influence from Neurosis and Cult Of Luna on this song and they do deserve credit for trying something different. The fast-paced and almost post-black metal sounding guitar riffs could give a clear indication what Spaceslug's music may sound in the future.

This may seem I'm not a huge fan of this song. Far from it. I think this maybe Spaceslug's best song they've written to date. Though long-time fans may find this song very overwhelming at fist. As it's a different sounding Spaceslug.

The final two songs - Vialys Parts I & II and The Tide - sees the band return to their classic sound but with a more grunge based approach. These two songs show you why Spaceslug are highly regarded within the Doom/Stoner Metal community. As the mood can only be described as magical with the progressive doom/stoner vibes even allowing for some cool sounding post-rock moments.

Spaceslug end up delivering their boldest and most creative album to date. I still prefer Time Travel Dilemma to this album. However that hasn’t stopped Spaceslug from delivering an ummissable and must-have album.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life PR and Jadd at Red Lead Media for the promo. Eye The Tide will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via BSFD Records from July 20th 2018.

Pre-orders will be available soon from Spaceslug's BandCamp Page

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp