5 on the road a long journey home...
OLKOTH- The Immortal Depths & Treasures of Necromancy-CD/ Digital/LP ( Signal Rex )
Atmospheres at times take on meanings all there own from time to time with bands like Olkoth here is something very sinister and grimm going on in the USA . These two alchemist of fantasy, occult and proggish Post black metal come with something very interesting to say the least. What we have here seems to be two demos from 2016 and 2017. I hear elements of Graveland, Ophthalamia, Dawn, Limbonic art just to name a few. An album like really draws you in with the story and tone. I not really sure what else to say about Olkoth are they are some damn original for 2019 and have those raw elements mixed with Dungeon metal and Blackened goodness. It's your turn to see what wonders Olkoth have for you.
Arctos -Beyond The Grasp of Mortal Hands-CD/Digital ( Northern Silence Productions )
From the frozen North of Canada comes Arctos . A grandoius vision of Doom, Folk , Black, Death Metal that is clearly as epic as it is majestic. There is a massive sound and thunderous arrangement going on better the tracks . Arctos is a band of many layers and musical journeys. The beautiful and tasteful Viking meets Power metal vocals are really beyond words as well. At the heart of all that Arctos creates is a Pagan Forest Occult Black Doom style but there is some much between that and were it comes to conclusion. At this times this album is really just a metallic jaw dropper to say the least. The production is really second to none. There is some much in common with bands like Bal Sagoth, Novembers Doom and Immortal all going at the same time. It really is just time for you to witness...
Drown- Unsleep- CD/Digital/LP (Lupus Lounge/ Prophecy Productions )
Ukranian by way of Poland now this mastermind named Markov Soroka back in 2014 had created one of the most sorrow filled and tormented Spacial Doom album this side of Esoteric and Dolorian. We now can get this by way of Prophecy productions and their sublabel Lups Lounge. There are elements of of Industrial, Black metal, Death Doom, Noise and just this side of total dispair and madness. Broken up into 5 parts but one complete story Markov is at top of his game here and its been 5 yrs .. I really look forward to hear the other projects he creates. There is just a power to all of this like no much I have heard before. He does Slow too another Doom band I really was impressed with. This is a difficult listen but so rewarding in the end.
Encoffination-We Proclaim Your Death, O' Lord -CD/Digital/Tape (Self Made God)
Ultra low and slow guttural and cavernous Death Doom and just ugly and nasty slow Death metal reminds me of bands like Womb, Incantation, Skepticism, Winter , Disembowelmentetc. This album by Encoffination is just mindblowing and heavy. I can not give you the feeling in words how brutal and powerful this release is. this album crawls from track to track just to bludgen you into submission. This Duo know what suffering and nightmares are first hand that is clear. I never want music like this to stop. These madmen are also making music in Father Befouled nd Decrepitaph.. Encoffination slow and horrifying descend into hell one step at time could not be more a wonderful musical adventure for this reviewer. I will leave you on this. Sometimes slower, deeper and heavier are just better...
Pale Grey Lore- Eschatology- CD/ Digital/LP (Small Stone )
Ohio has given us one hell of a melodic doomy space rock meets epic heavy metal journey . I swear with Pale Grey Lore I hear bands like Kings X, Monster Magnet, Foo Fighters and Saigon Kick. There are some amazing doesages of bands like Kyuss and Lo pan going on here as well. Catchy and Heavy as grooving in a very very good way. These vocals with those guitars are infectous and make you want to listen to this fuzzed out journey over and over again. The have that sound that Trouble, Electric Wizard and Orange Goblin made so hot on Rise Above reocrds. Yes there are Sabbath elements but that mixes with Eastern and Heavy Blues rock in the way Blue Cheer, Iron Butterfly and Deep Purple brought to us as well. There is are moments I hear Diamond Head, Judas Priest and Saxon here too. There is just so much the mind is abot to explode in the best way possible. Ok enough of me fawning over this album its your turn to get hooked and fall in love...
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