Wasteland Coven and Nothing Is Real are both doom metal bands from the US, and they have teamed up for this split.
We’ve met Wasteland Coven previously on their very good debut EP Ruined. On this split they offer up three new tracks lasting 19 minutes.
The band’s traditional doom metal is on fine form, showcasing good songs that combine big riffs, forlorn atmosphere, and charismatic vocals. The songs are well-written and textured, allowing the band a strong foundation on which to build up emotive mood-rich structures that elevate the music beyond that of your average doom metal group.
Wasteland Coven have once again impressed. Their doom is convincing and engaging, and their singer one of the best in the style. This is a band that are definitely shaping up to be one of my favourite doom metal bands playing the traditional style, and I can’t wait to hear what they eventually do with a full length.
Nothing Is Real is a solo act I haven’t encountered before, and delivers three songs with a duration of 25 minutes.
These three tracks are dark and esoteric. The music sounds like a corruption of traditional doom, as if it has been warped and mutated by uncontrolled psychedelia and grim malignant sludge. The end result is a multifaceted rich tapestry of sounds that somehow comes off as simultaneously beautiful and horrifying. It kind of reminds me of something Today Is the Day might do if their focus was on atmospheric doom.
The artist behind Nothing Is Real has crafted an individual and idiosyncratic sound for himself, and these songs show attention to detail alongside a sort of free form expression that sounds both accidental and deliberate. However these songs were created, they’re compelling and enjoyable.
This is a great split release that demonstrates how to produce top quality traditional doom metal, and equally top quality non-standard, unusual doom metal. Both bands complement each other, and this is a 44-minute journey I heartily recommend.
Find out more below –
Wonderbox Metal 