Vessel - The Somnifer (Album Review)

Release Date: November 01st 2024. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Sonnifer - Track Listing:

1.The Somnifer

2.Draining the Labyrinth

3.Rapid Eye Movement 03:32

4.Eat the Day 03:34

5.Delta Waves

6.Recurring Nightmare

7.Regeneration

8.Image Rehearsal Reaction

9.False Awakening Continuum

10.Body and Soul 04:35

Members

Jordan Forster: Guitars

Mason Matheson: Vocals, Bass

Review

HIghly regarded Aussie Doom/Stoner Metal Duo Vessel return with their fourth album The Somnifer and it seems the band have studied all of the great bands who have graced us with their creative presence over the last fifty years  of the Doom/Stoner scene. Vessel construct progressive cosmic landscapes with The Somnifer which is inspired by bands such as Acid King, Black Sabbath, SLEEP, KYUSS and fellow modern day riffsters such as King Buffalo, ELDER and All Them Witches. However, Vessel create music in their own psychedelic image where nothing is ever simple which you’ll experience multiple times with the band switching to different styles of music whenever they feel like it.

The first batch of tracks of The Somnifer, Draining The Labyrinth and Rapid Eye Movement lays down the groundwork with heavy instrumental passages that blends Space Rock, Psych, Doom and Stoner Rock with an intense melodic Sludge Rock backdrop solidifying Vessel as a completely different band compared to their previous albums. The vocals are sparse at first and only appear at first within the sublime third track Rapid Eye Movement. The song is quite abstract with Vessel keeping their cards quite close to their chest. MAMA DOOM lead vocalist D.Lolli makes the first of two appearances on the album with the first being Rapid Eye Movement. D’s vocals have a “less is more” approach with a deeply rich and emotional style which is one of the best parts of the record.

Fourth track Eat The Day has an aggressive Sludge Metal/Punk Rock sound with D.Lolli making their second appearance and this performance is way more aggressive and very much in your face which matches the music that Vessel deliver with quite a muscular FUZZED tone. The bass heavy approach allows Vessel to move into murky Psychedelic waters with Punk Rock credibility shining through.

The Somnifer returns to its Cosmic roots but be prepared for Vessel to bring a classic and throwback style of Punk, Hardcore and Crossover elements to their music. Vessel also operates with a world-weary and reflective sound with the album which comes across superbly well on tracks such as Delta Waves, Recurring Nightmare and Regeneration. The album becomes quite experimental and apocalyptic with the lyrics that Vessel has written for the second half of the album. It can be a bit outlandish at times but this works within the overall journey that Vessel have prepared here. You can see Vessel closely resemble Doom Metallers EAGLE TWIN especially on Recurring Nightmare with the punishing instrumental grooves and grizzled vocals from Mason. 

The final batch of tracks of Image Rehearsal Reaction, False Awakening Continuum and the final track which is a stunning cover of The Sisters Of Mercy classic track Body and Soul. This part of the album is perhaps the wildest, heaviest and most inventive part of the album though the whole of The Somnifer is a complete trip powered through heavy Psychedelic Grooves, Ambient Themes and Distorted Spaced Out FUZZ of the highest order. 

The Somnifer sees Vessel drawing upon a number of guest appearances throughout the album, including Neal Stein (El Supremo, ex-Egypt), Andy Shardlow (Josiah) and Ceridwen McCooey who all lend their first rate talents for a deeply subversive trip into the more surreal side of Doom/Stoner Metal.

Vessel have produced a truly original album with The Somnifer that dares to be different whilst paying homage and respect to the overall scene. This is an unmissable album which is being released by the always awesome and super reliable Majestic Mountain Records that only adds to the overall quality of the album.

This is another album making a late bid for grabbing those places on the inevitable Album Of The Year articles that will be appearing soon and it’s already grabbed a spot on mine. This is simply unmissable. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo. 

Vessel will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Recordings from Friday 01st November 2024.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Doom/Stoner Metallers VESSEL Release New Song/Lyric Video For EAT THE DAY From Upcoming New Album THE SOMNIFER

Influenced by the sounds of the underground stoner and doom scene while sculpting their latest offering; a concept album tying together the aftermath of an experienced trauma with the journey of the sleep-state. The Somnifer was, like so many albums released since mid-2020, written in reflective isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This gave songwriter Forster the separation and introspection to craft an album around his own experiences of dealing with trauma, that can often mirror that of our personal connection with the enigma of sleep. 

It is a tale of the different stages the mind can pass through when experiencing both; from the peaks of self-empowerment to the lows of existential dread, The Somnifer weaves together the mental health struggles that both trauma and sleep can play on the human condition. 

To achieve this, Vessel reach for inspiration to manifest a new three-act structure, from the drama of classic doom from Candlemass and Cathedral, the cosmic explorations of psych heavyweights such as All Them Witches and King Buffalo, the aggression of the hardcore and crossover scenes, with the journey of the classic heavy metal instrumentals we all grew up with. Once again, Vessel have reached out to friends and favourites from the scene and beyond to contribute to their art, with guest appearances from Neal Stein (El Supremo, ex-Egypt), Andy Shardlow (Josiah), D.Lolli (Mama Doom), Ceridwen McCooey

Pre-orders opens September 13th at 19:00 CET over at https://majesticmountainrecords.bigcartel.com

We're honoured to premiere the new single EAT THE DAY from the upcoming new album THE SOMINFER which is due for release on November 01st 2024. 

Here's more info about the fantastic new single – Eat the Day

"You wake, feeling like you could take on the world, and step out into the day to make it bend to your will. But is this unusual sense of power and control just a subterfuge of self? What is even real? Does it even matter? Vessel Eat the Day with their second single from new album The Somnifer, through blood pumping desert heat riffs and earth pounding drums that sync to the sound of your feet hitting the pavement as you run towards the future you crave, even if it is only in your dreams."

Majestic Mountain Records say this about working with VESSEL again.

"We are thrilled to once again work with one of our original signees! Vessel has produced yet another exceptional album that is certain to impress you!"

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Twitter | Instagram

Pre-orders opens September 13th at 19:00 CET over at https://majesticmountainrecords.bigcartel.com

Thanks to Majestic Mountain Records for all of the info.

VESSEL - Vagabond Blues (Album Review)

Release date: February 07^th 2020. Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Vagabond Blues - Tracklisting

1.Vagabond Blues 03:15

2.Twenty Twenty 03:48

3.Atacama 06:30

4.Red Witch 06:36

5.Dark in the Light 02:29

6.The Void Tempest 07:45

7.The Devil's Backyard 07:40

Members

Jordan Forster: Guitars

Mason Matheson: Vocals

Adrian Doling-Hill: Bass

Review

Vagabond Blues is the new album from Aussie Psych Doom/Desert/Stoner Rockers VESSEL who include a heavy Fuzz Rock attitude into their overall sound. The album is quite raw from start to finish but remains one of the albums greatest strengths. As VESSEL play a faster style of Stoner Rock/Metal with a “streetwise” attitude that allows the album to be ALL KILLER and NO FILLER.

The collection of songs on this album is quite addictive with the band allowing their talent for writing fast-paced riffs and cracking lyrics to match. The album also has an off-kilter “Punk” flavour to it which allows the different strands of Doom, Fuzz, Psych, Desert Rock and Stoner Rock to grow quite naturally. The spacier elements of the album start to take shape at different parts of the album with psychedelic noises and sounds being quite different in places.

The vocals from Mason have a “classic” feel and flow to them and he puts his own distinctive vibe on the album especially on songs such as: Vagabond Blues, Twenty Twenty, Red Witch, The Void Tempest and The Devil’s Backyard.

It’s the final two songs of The Void Tempest and The Devil’s Backyard is where VESSEL play the heaviest and most aggressive sounds of the album. As the album turns quite dark and sinister in places on the later stages of the album. It’s good to see VESSEL taking chances with their music and Vagabond Blues becomes more of an exciting and destructive album because of this.

You never know which direction the album will follow next. This is an album with a beginning, middle and end with a “loose” narrative letting the band play some epic riffs of their own. It may take a few listens to fully enjoy and appreciate what VESSEL are trying to achieve with this album but you will sure have some demented fun along the way.

Vagabond Blues is an exciting album that has the potential to turn some heads within the Stoner Rock community in the months to come. Get on board with this great band. VESSEL are coming for you….

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Majestic Mountain Records for the promo. Vagabond Blues is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records now.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

VESSEL SIGNS TO MAJESTIC MOUNTAIN RECORDS FOR WORLDWIDE VINYL RELEASE OF THEIR THIRD ALBUM AND HEAR NEW SONG - TWENTY TWENTY

VESSEL SIGNS TO MAJESTIC MOUNTAIN RECORDS FOR WORLD WIDE VINYL RELEASE OF THEIR THIRD ALBUM IN FEBRUARY 2020 

Majestic Mountain Records is very proud to welcome Australian based Vessel to the label and we're so excited to bring the new album 'Vagabond Blues' to all of you in February!   

'Vagabond blues' is a 7-songs genre-defying tour-de-force album covering metal, doom and of course fuzz!  As can be heard with the first single 'Twenty Twenty' the current enviroment situation is one of the HOT topics on the album and something that Majestic Mountain Records supports to 100%. Albums like 'Vagabond Blues' is what keeps the Majestic Mountain machine rolling and we can't wait to share the album with you! 

'Vagabond Blues' drops the 7th of February 2020 and the vinyl pre-order will open in the end of January! Stay tuned for more information about the content of the vinyl release! 

To get you in the mood for the album you can hear this Exclusive Premiere of the new song TWENTY TWENTY from the upcoming new album from the link below:

https://soundcloud.com/thevesselproject/vessel-twenty-twenty/s-mhqXf
Vessel Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

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