Orphans Of Doom - II (Album Review)

Release date: February 28th 2020. Label: The Company KC. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

II - Tracklisting

1.New Ishtar

2.Necromantic

3.Swans

4.The Ornamentalist

5.Rust

6.The Last of Me (The Captain)

7.Viper Diaper

8.Fever Dream

Members

Jeremy Isaacson – Guitar

Bryan Sedey – Guitar

Greg Koelling – Drums

Review

Orphans Of Doom are back with their new album – II – and it’s a less spaced out affair compared to their debut album which made me an instant fan of their music. Their new album is perhaps more aggressive and focuses more on a heavier style of Sludge/Doom Metal not heard on their debut album. Though there is still much to enjoy here if you’re a fan of the band’s debut album.

II is another standout album from the band and sees Orphans Of Doom expand their journey even further down the Sludge/Doom Metal rabbit hole. The riffs and vocals have a more precise nature to them with the band also adding a more progressive edge to their overall sound.

Opening song – New Ishtar – has a groove metal sound driving everything along with flashes of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal being used for heavy stylish effect. The song also offers glimpses of Psychedelic and Spaced Out Noises that shows that the band are more than happy to revisit ideas first heard on their last album. Though it’s the heavy grooves and riffs that’s the main attraction here. Perhaps influenced by early-era Mastodon once again but the band still manage to play their own blend of action-packed riffs.

Second song – Necromantic – opens with a fast-paced “Thrash” style sound with the vocals being more forceful and that’s perhaps down to the highly volatile lyrics the band have written for this song. The band do play some wonderfully epic guitar solos on the later stages of the song which can be quite melodic in places. The Psychedelic Post-Doom riff the band included towards the end had me under their spell for a few short moments before returning to their “normal” aggressive style of music.

Third song – Swans – carries on the thundering and heavy progressive grooves heard with a lot more flair and imagination being heard on this song with the music having a very cool sounding “LOUD v QUIET” dynamic with the band focusing more on the Progressive Doom Metal vibe of their overall sound. The song can be too flashy in places but I believe the band have earned that right to show folks what they can and they lay down a wide range of impressive sounds on this song alone.

Fourth Song – The Ornamentalist – is my favourite song on the album as it sees Orphans Of Doom add the classic “Thin Lizzy” guitar sound to the album and when they merge it with their epic style of Psychedelic Guitar Riffs then I’m taken back to the heavy atmosphere heard on the band’s debut album. The song is still quite heavy but the Spaced Out moments is what made me a fan of Orphans Of Doom in the first place. Musically, this is perhaps the best sounding song on the album and leaves you wanting more.

Four songs down and four songs to go. Orphans Of Doom carry on with their mission in bringing heavy and stylish Psychedelic and Progressive Sludge vibes with the second half of the album perhaps being even heavier than the first part. Songs such as: Rust, The Last Of Me and Viper Diaper – showing that the band have a wealth of different ideas to impress the masses with.

The production is excellent that allows the band to try new and exciting new ideas on this album that all ultimately pay off with Orphans Of Doom creating another outstanding album to impress the Doom/Sludge Metal masses with. As their debut album was sadly overlooked in my opinion. I’m hoping this album allows the band to enhance their fan-base to greater levels. As these guys richly deserve all the rewards and accolades hopefully coming their way.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Joshua at The Company KC for the promo. II will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via The Company KC from February 28^th 2020.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

DRUIDS - Monument (Album Review)

Release date: April 19th 2019. Label: The Company KC. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Monument – Tracklisting

1.New Breath

2.Iron Healer

3.Mirrors of Trigon

4.The Whip

5.Shivast

Members

Luke Rauch : Vocals/ Guitar

Keith Rich: Drums

Drew Rauch: Vocals/ Bass

Review

Progressive Sludge/Stoner Rockers DRUIDS new album Monument is perhaps the record that will hopefully see them gain actual mainstream attention. As they’ve created an album that draws influence from Sleep, Mastodon and Baroness though an album still with its sound and identity. Newly signed to The Company KC who have are a building up a steady reputation in releasing quality sounding releases and Monument is no different.

Opening song – New Breath – has some epic Mastodon-esque riffs running through it’s veins though offering a more varied Progressive Rock sound. The sci-fi based themes are what makes DRUIDS music truly standout. As the mood becomes more volatile and allows the band to create a more thunderous style of Sludge/Stoner Metal with the vocals being more grounded as well.

Second song – Iron Healer – has a heavier and more direct sound compared to the opening song. The vocals are a cool mix of Clean Vocals and Heavy Prowls and is perhaps DRUIDS best vocal performance to date. The psychedelic and space rock riffs work superbly with the heavier Progressive Rock/Metal elements the band have included here.

Third song – Mirrors Of Trigon – is the song that is perhaps the standout song and the one that has been generating actual buzz within the scene for DRUIDS and rightly so. This is an epic reinvention of the modern sounding Sludge/Stoner Metal sound. The sludgy and droned out guitars slowly build up a cold rhythm before the doomier elements appear for a more varied and richer sound. The vocals have an alternative rock/metal feel to them and it works surprisingly well. The lyrics maybe OTT but it allows everything to flow naturally whilst telling an interesting story as well.

The final two songs – The Whip and Shivast – continues with the epic Sci-Fi based themes DRUIDS build their music upon. Shivast is perhaps the strongest of the final two songs as DRUIDS go all out on this song and perhaps perform some of the albums heaviest progressive sounds.

Monument is DRUIDS finest record to date and they deserve all the success and plaudits coming their way. This is a record you cannot miss.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to The Company KC for the promo. Monument will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via The Company KC from April 19th 2019.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Godmaker/Somnuri:Split (Album Review)

Release date: November 2nd 2018. Label: The Company KC. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Godmaker/Somnuri: Split – Tracklisting

1.Godmaker - An Excerpt 13:44

2.Godmaker - Over (Portishead Cover) 04:47

3.Somnuri - Over and Out 04:35

4.Somnuri - Edge of the Forest 07:20

Godmaker Members

Pete Ross - Guitar/Vox/Lead Beard

Andrew Archey - Bass/vox/Gingerbeard

Jon Lane – Drums/Commentary/Beard

Somnuri Members

Justin Sherrell - Guitars/Vocals

Phil SanGiacomo - Drums

Drew Mack - Bass

Review

Godmaker and Somnuri have teamed up for this superb sounding split album with the band both offering heavy styles of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal to each other. Godmaker is perhaps the more gloomiest of the two with a doomier and heavier feel.

Godmaker offer two songs – An Excerpt and a great cover of Portished song – Over. An Excerpt is an almost 14 minute epic that sees the band play a sludge/post-metal/doom hybrid sound that takes influence from bands such as Neurosis, ISIS (The Band) and other bands of that ilk. The mood is dynamically heavy with the band creating a slow to mid-tempo sound that doesn’t hold back on the loud riffs.

An Excerpt does take some time to fully get going but it’s never boring as Godmaker inject a few cool Psychedelic sounds along the way. The vocals are intense and very raw but it matches the volatile doom based atmosphere the band create here. The song does became more fast-paced towards the end and it’s quite relentless at times. A very cool way to end the song.

Their second song which is a cover of Portishead classic song – Over – is a weird and very inspired choice. As I didn’t think these guys could pull it off. The original is such an emotional song and features a stunning vocal performance by Beth Gibbons. It’s one of those songs that are considered timeless. So I was a little worried on how these guys would perform the song. Truth be told the band do a stellar job performing this song and they play the song as a gloomy alt-rock/metal song rather than the Doom/Sludge sounds Godmaker are known for. So a very good cover indeed.

Now it’s time for Somnuri to impress me with their blend of Sludge/Stoner Metal. And like they Godmaker they don’t disappoint with the two songs they have included here. Over and Out and Edge Of The Forest.

Over and Out is a sludgy fast-paced number with the band adding elements of Doom, Sludge, Stoner Rock and vibrant Noise Rock grooves. The psychedelic riffs allows the song to flow at a natural pace. The vocals are a mixture of heavy growls and clean vocals that have quite an uplifting feel to them. The song takes influence from TORCHE and Mastodon at times but the band still create their own highly addictive sound.

Edge Of The Forest is where Somnuri experiment with their sound and play a more refined style of music. Well for the first few moments when the band adapt a gloomy post-rock sound with vocals drifting in and out. The heavy sludgy riffs appear and you can hear a slight Deftones influence with brooding guitars and soothing vocals. The song becomes heavier around the 2^nd minute and the Somnuri that I loved from last year’s album finally appear. The harsh vocals and growls take some time getting used to but Somnuri still manage to create a very exciting song to end the split record with.

This split record does what it needs t do and that’s to show the world how great Godmaker and Somnuri actually are. Both bands play different styles of music that compliment each other superbly well. Hopefully there is new records from both bands in the near future as this split record only leaves you wanting more.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

You can buy the album from The Company KC here.

Godmaker Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Somnuri Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Young Bull - Midnight Climax (Album Review)

Release date: June 08th 2018. Label: The Company KC. Format: Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl

Midnight Climax – Tracklisting

1.Purple Pain 03:32
2.G.A.C. 02:01
3.Light Beam 03:07
4.The Worm 03:24
5.Swordbearer 02:53
6.Overbored 03:03
7.Horned One 02:37
8.Know the Drill 03:07
9.13 Reasons 02:02
10.Midnight Climax 03:32
11.Chainwhipped 03:07

Members

Treet-VX
Jamakee-GTR
Cameron -GTR
Brian-BSS
Aaron-DRM

Review

Young Bull are currently signed to The Company KC and they have just released their debut album Midnight Climax. This album is a very loud and boisterous Sludge/Punk/Stoner Metal affair with the right amount of aggression and progressive sounds.

Opening with the fast-paced - Purple Pain, Young Bull waste no time in laying down some heavy psychedelic and classic sounding riffs. The atmosphere is quite angry and has an old-school Punk-Rock sensibility especially with the superb drumming from Aaron and distorted bass playing from Brian as well. The vocals from Treet are very much in your face and they offer an unsettling presence at times.

Young Bull carries on playing this highly aggressive style of Sludge/Stoner Metal throughout the majority of the album. With songs such as: G.A.C., Light Beam, The Worm, and Overbored allowing Young Bull to put in a commanding performance throughout the album. The band may feel they play a standard Sludge/Stoner Metal sound. However look behind the fast-paced riffs, Young Bull actually play a wide range of different styles. My favourite parts is when the Thin Lizzy style classic guitar solos appear. Young Bull even treats you to a few Classic Rock/Heavy Metal musical passages.

The best moments of the album appear on the second half of the album on songs such as Know The Drill, 13 Reasons, Midnight Climax and Chainwhipped. Most of the songs last around two to three minutes in length. So there is no waiting around for the loud and violent music to appear. Young Bull has got a job to do and they excel at playing a more precise sound.

The music maybe too fast-paced for some but there sure is a lot of fun to be had when Young Bull decide to move away from the standard Sludge/Stoner Metal sound and you can feel the band enjoying themselves. The lyrics are fine for the most part however there are a few songs that could have done with more work or be left as instrumental songs.

The production is excellent, so no complaints on that score with the album having a powerful sound. Young Bull never outstays their welcome and this album proves they might have something about them in the years to come.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to The Company KC for the promo. Midnight Climax is available to buy on Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl now via The Company KC

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp