This is the fifth album from US post-metal band A Storm of Light.
Here we have 51 minutes of music that mixes metal, post-metal, punk, doom, quasi-industrial, and progressive metal. That’s right, it’s quite a mix, but the band pull it off remarkably well. Continue reading “A Storm of Light – Anthroscene (Review)”
The Primals are a US rock band and this is their debut album.
Although not normally the kind of music I’m instantly attracted to, I felt compelled to check out All Love Is True Love mainly due to the presence of Darkest Hour‘s singer on vocals. Does that make me shallow? Probably. Continue reading “The Primals – All Love Is True Love (Review)”
Thou are a sludge/doom band from the US and this is their fifth album.
Thou are a very prolific band. They have released enough material on splits, EPs, etc. to probably equate to more material again than can be found on their actual albums. This in no way lessens the impact of when they do release a full length album, however. Continue reading “Thou – Magus (Review)”
Forming the Void are a progressive stoner/sludge doom band from the US. This is their fourth album.
After enjoying Forming the Void’s split with Pyreship, I was eager to hear more from the band. Thankfully, that desire has been catered to in the form of Rift; 46 minutes of new material for me to wrap my ears around. Continue reading “Forming the Void – Rift (Review)”
Soul Attrition is a one man post-rock band from the US and this is his debut album.
The man behind this band also plays in the wonderfully alternative/sludgy Escape Is Not Freedom, so I knew I had to give this one a listen. Continue reading “Soul Attrition – Vashon Rain (Review)”
This is the debut album from Irish post-metal/doom band Third Island.
After the initial promise of Third Island’s debut EP Dusk, the band have now returned with a full 48 minutes of material. This is direct, forthright post-metal, which also takes in influences from doom, sludge, post-rock, and progressive metal. Continue reading “Third Island – Omelas (Review)”
This is the second album from Mothersloth, a Spanish stoner/doom metal band.
Has it really been almost three years since Mothersloth’s stellar debut album Moribund Star? Apparently so. Time moves fast, but at least we now have a new release from this talented band. Continue reading “Mothersloth – Moon Omen (Review)”
Boss Keloid are a Sludge Metal band from the UK. This is their second album.
Boss Keloid’s Sludge fuses Metal, Doom, Stoner and even Progressive Metal and Grunge into its tar-like embrace, offering the listener 59 minutes of compelling riffage.
With a huge, massive sound, Boss Keloid bring the heaviness with ease. The songs are chock-full of tasty riffs and the kind of guitars that can knock you over if played at full volume.
The Stoner-esque vocals sound really good, adding an extra level of colour and richness to already textured music. The singer has commanding presence, great personality and charisma, all of which are clearly felt through his voice.
The songs themselves are very satisfying, all the more so due to the decent amount of variety and interest that the album has. With almost an hour of music it would be easy to lose momentum or have some dull moments, but the incorporation of the various Metal sub-genres into the mix makes for a very endearing and engaging album.
Unlike some bands that use multiple styles as parts of their musical recipe, Boss Keloid don’t move from one easily identified sub-genre in one section to another; the band mix all of these elements into the songs together, holistically making the most of these influences to the betterment of the songs and the album as a whole.
Each track is recognisable as its own beast with its own identity, and pretty much every track has elements of the wider pool of influences mixed in.
An extremely impressive album. Herb Your Enthusiasm is a keeper.
For fans of Conan, Electric Wizard, Mammoth Storm, Orange Goblin, Down, etc.
Against Time are an Alternative Rock band from Canada. This is their début EP.
This is uplifting Alternative Rock with a pinch of Metal here and there in some of the riffs. It reminds me of the kind of style that was quite wildly popular a decade or so ago – somewhat of the time of a kind of Post-Grunge second wave, I suppose.
The singer’s voice fits the music and is kind of reminiscent of the big commercial US stadium rock style from the era, (Pearl Jam, Creed, etc.).
For the most part these songs are upbeat rockers, although on the odd occasion where they slow down I find I actually prefer these parts. Having said that though, there are some good riffs on this in places.
There’s a lot of promise on this EP and I think that if they refine their style a bit more, as I’m sure they will, then they’ll go from strength to strength.
For those times when you want a bit of simple Rock without anything too retro or too modern, there are worse choices than Against Time.
Have a listen and see what you think.
Favourite Track: Breathless.
HD live video here – http://www.omniumdurock.tv/2015/11/20/against-time-18-novembre-2015/
Escape Is Not Freedom are from the US and play Alternative Metal. This is their début EP.
5 songs, 28 minutes.
I like this band. They’re playing a style that’s a bit harder to pigeon hole than most, and I haven’t really heard much too similar to this for a long time.
The band this reminds me the most of is Fudge Tunnel, only with slightly harsher vocals. If you know Fudge Tunnel at all, then it will give you a good idea of Escape Is Not Freedom’s sound. If not, then think slightly-muted and unusual Alternative Metal, done with a Noise Rock background and a raw, underground Grunge influence, before it became a big thing. Add in a few elements of Therapy? at their more Alt-Rock and a pinch of Helmet, and you have this EP.
The songs are a satisfying listen, taking me back to the 90s in many respects. If you’re looking for a few more modern references though, think a less-Sludge version of Kowloon Walled City mixed with a bit of Russian Circles.
The slightly-muted delivery is an interesting one as it is frequently presented by large riffs and energetic guitars, so how they manage to retain that subtlety and understated-edge that Fudge Tunnel did so well is beyond me. It’s partially down to the production, but also the feel of the songs themselves. It’s a very hard-to-achieve juxtaposition, but when done right, it works.
This won’t be to everyone’s tastes, (which is a silly thing to say in many ways, as you could literally say that about any band), but I have enjoyed it; not only due to the fact that it’s a little different, but also just due to the strength of the songs themselves.
If you’re looking for something a little outside of your normal comfort zone, try Escape Is Not Freedom on for size.
Wonderbox Metal 