Bands You Should Be Hearing Pt.III

Yet again, some suggestions that might interest you.

Forhekset allé is a one man atmospheric-post-gaze-black metal act from Copenhagen, Denmark. The whole formula used by Forhekset allé on this EP is quite interesting. The whole mix between black metal, post-rock, shoegaze and electronic elements delivers some very intriguing and innovative music in the metal realm. I believe the best term to describe "VINTERBÆST" is indeed "experimental". This EP left me very curious on how a full-length would be from this artist.

VINTERBÆST

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Of Spire & Throne, a very well known band from here. I've been posting the work of these fine Scottish gentlemen since day one, and it's curious to witness their growth every time they send new material out. This year the band introduces us to "Toll of the Wound" their latest full-length album that came out by the hand of Broken Limbs Recordings. Once again, the trio unleashes three crushing songs that will smash our skulls with the most loathsome sludge doom to which the band has got us used to. Heavy, filthy dragged riffs covered with the cavernous vocals of Ali Lauder. One thing you'll probably notice, if you haven't heard this yet or at least with enough attention, is that, soundwise, the first track "Legacy" has a slight different kind of production than the other two songs. that was precisely the first thing I noticed when I heard the album. This happened because they were recorded by two different people with a with an range of five months between them although "Toll of the Wound" was mastered by James Plotkin. Two songs of the most minimalist sludge doom sliced by a instrumental all wrapped up in a very good sound mastering. You like your doom slow and sluggish? Then this is for you. Buy it here. Support these lads.

Of Spire & Throne

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Offerstigen, a very curious band from Sweden. What do these guys play? Low-fi Black metal? Ritualistic Doom? I don't know and it's hard for me to describe their sound or even compare it to some band that already exists. They sound a lot different from the stuff I'm used to hear. And you know what? I like it. The despairing screams that range from afar from the rest of the instruments, the whole gloomy atmosphere that the band manages to pass with this release is really unique. Check them out.

Offerstigen

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Outer Gods the destructive atmospheric drone duo from Atlanta are back. Delivering two massive tracks of 22 minutes long each, that work as chapters for this noisy and corrosive wall of noise that we face in "Through This Unending Chasm". I do not listen a lot to this genre nowadays but once I press "Play" I get in such an entrancing state that is hard for me to get out this dark, labyrinthine well of drone and dark ambient. The first chapter deliver a more harsh and massive wall of distortion while the second chapter is more about creating a very haunting and creepy atmosphere. Approved!

Outer Gods

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Pornography, from Nashville, Tennessee. I almost forgot how good this band is. And at this point I don't understand how these guys aren't in some well known labels out there. I kinda imagine this band in Gilead Media, Iron Lung or even Deathwish. Pornography's sound is also very unique and is something that separates them from the rest herd. Slow, punishing, minimalist riffs that are thrown with precision into the mind of the listener causing nothing but discomfort. The tracks here, "Hex" and "Golden Sunshine" are very good but still, not enough. I want more from this band. And I'm sure you do too. So please... check the rest of the discography from this band. You can thank me later.

PRNGRPHY

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Finally, Recitation, an occult doom band from Copenhagen, Denmark. Introducing his first self titled EP. Apparently this was all written, performed, recorded and mixed by J. S. Jarlstrøm. Holy shit dude. The result is three heavy, primitive and slow impenetrable doom tracks. At a first listen it might not grow on you (it didn't grew on me at first ) so, it's going to take some few plays for you to probably get into Recitation's obscure version of doom. Of course that, soundwise speaking, there are some edges that needed to be trimmed so let's see what the future will bring for Recitation. Horns up!

Recitation

Of Spire & Throne "Vagary"

"Vagary" is the new EP from Scotland's doomsters Of Spire & Throne. Straight out of the deepest and filthiest sewers of Edinburgh, Of Spire & Throne are actually one of the most interesting bands coming straight out of the small sludge/doom scene of Edinburgh. "Vagary" is their third release, and consists on one monstrous track of 21 minutes. The thing i dig about this band the most is their sound. It's heavy, crushing and raw. No digital mambo-jambo here. No polished production or whatsoever. Just a pure set of guitars-bass-drum, played very intensely in order to crush us and to that add the growling cavernous voice of Ali Lauder that will make you shiver on every word vomited by his throat. The way doom should sound.

The track begins as we feared, slowly... i mean, very slowly. But yeah.. it's doom right? But these guys know exactly what they're pulling you into. At a very slow pace, all the instruments sound as if they're dragging us into this dark, cold and wet dungeon well hidden in the depths of Edinburgh Castle. The deep we're dragged into this pit, the more heavy the air gets. Clogged with decaying riffs the motto is set and Ali's voice crashes upon us like a thunder. This mournful pace remains like so until about half of the track where this beast evolves into a very, very depressed rhytm, always layered with this thick, massive riffs that consumes us. Suddenly the track lurks into another dynamic section of the track, and judging by the tone of it, it makes us guess that the end is very near. And as we predicted, just as it slowly emerged, all this massive weight is slowly fading away... hiding itself in the shadow until the next time. If i could just describe this track into one word i guess it would be: Epic.

In overall, "Vagary" is one track that represents perfectly what this music genre is all about. With this release, Of Spire & Throne have gained another crushing milestone in their emerging career. If you like your doom, slow, mournful and crushing heavy, then this one is for you. I can't listen to it without banging my head very slow, following every riff, every massive beat of the drums.

Support the band by buying this awesome EP thru their Bandcamp it's super-cheap and really worth it, also buy merch, go to shows. And please... will someone sign these guys? They need a full-length now!

A huge thanks to Ali and the rest of OS&T crew for sending me this. Follow their steps here.

Vagary

Special Review: Of Spire & Throne

"The Trial of Failure" is the new EP by the Scottish doomsters Of Spire & Throne, i wrote about these friends here long ago about their Demo. Well i must say that now they made me swallow what i said back then, not that i said something bad about them... they just needed more "sauce" (portuguese expression) to their sound.

"The Trial of Failure" begins with "Loss Ritual", as the first guitar feedback open way to the funeral march, conducted by drum and bass, we don't have to wait much until the first riffs collapse upon our ears, Ali's voice is really deep and grievous, sounds almost like death metal.. but don't get me wrong, this is doom in its most pure element. Slow, heavy and dirty sludge straight from Edinburgh's sewers. This is a long song, it almost passes the 10 minute mark. Next is "Steeped In Ruin", another colossal song, the instruments seem like are being dragged, i only can imagine this band live, it must sound three times heavier. Man, the riffs are so long that almost scratch the outskirts of Drone, on this song we witness some new elements, as the synthesizer that really gives another soul to the atmosphere. The end arrives with "Ruin", a instrumental song and a great way to end this EP, the whole atmosphere of this song is as dense as the fog that sometimes covers the city of Edinburgh, its a dark, grieving song. In general the production of "The Trial of Failure", is very good and deliver us a solid EP of the band, and i believe that the sound of OS&T is just getting more and more accurate, i just hope these guys don't stop, and keep bringing doom as it really should be. Now that we see it, there are few bands nowadays keeping, this kind of doom, flame burning, besides OS&T the only bands that comes to my mind right now are Atriarch and Aldebaran. So it's good that OS&T keep motivated and leave their mark on the scene. 

Thank you guys so much, specially Ali for sending me the EP for free! Although i even purchased it thru their Bancamp, so i hope you follow my example and support these guys, it's quite cheap. And they really are worth it. 

bandcamp

Of Spire & Throne

Mais uma besta saída dos esgotos pestilentos de Edinburgo, Escócia. Mais uma descoberta do Bandcamp (qualquer dia isto já dá direito a uma rubrica), Of Spire & Throne são uma banda de doom/sludge e esta é a sua Demo lançada o ano passado composta apenas por 2 temas. O som não traz nada de novo, apenas muito peso a um ritmo leeeentoooo.. gosto do som mas falta-lhe, mais "molho". É mais uma daquelas bandas que espero ver amadurecer com o tempo. A ver e ouvir.

bandcamp | sound the bagpipes!