Sweden’s DIY Stoner/Doom label Majestic Mountain Records is always best-known for releasing the most eccentric, adrenaline-fueling tunes possible, and fair to say that Arcane Desert Rituals Vol. 1 by Southern Italy’s King Potenaz is one of them!
This three-piece Stoner Doom act emerges on a transformative return arc with the release of this album, which also happens to be one of their heaviest and most groundbreakingly atmospheric releases to note. Imagine: a psychedelic rite that is heavily empowered by the art of occultism, in a form of sonic incantations. In terms of musical influences, this time, they managed to fuse a whole lot of subgenres altogether ranging from Doom, Sludge, Occult Metal, Stoner Rock, to Psychedelic; making it a release with eclectic, dynamic inclinations. When it comes to the specific names whose works they are heavily inspired by, mostly centered around the classics; Black Sabbath, Electric Wizard, Kyuss, Monster Magnet, and Sleep. As a result, the outcome of this album manifests in the form of hypnotic grooves combined with cavernous riffs and ferocious blackened passages– all while building atmospheres resembling that of a desert haze.
The original lineup of King Potenaz consisted of members from Punk, Hardcore, and Doom backgrounds, hence the eclectic versatility in their sonic alignments; with this album shifting between stoner overdrive, heavy riffage, folk-horror ambience, psychedelic-centered explorations, and harsh vocals, sometimes involving blackened growls. While attempting to delve deeper into the passages surrounding Occult Metal, Sludge, and Doom as a means of experimenting with a vast tapestry, they also managed to retain the conventional, heavy Stoner foundations– probably to pay homage to the classics.
We’ve seen a lot of Stoner/Doom acts experimenting with overdrives, fuzz, or even psych elements, but not many are daring enough to experiment with the very aesthetics of Occult-centered influences; making their musical alignment a form of subversion against the clean, conventional labels of what should be defined as “Doom”. Compared to their previous releases, this album is a more expansive take on vicious rawness; almost like a full-blown thrust. Think of Electric Wizard laced with shamanic undertones. All in all, this all-around sinister release is an eye-opening balance between the enigma of slow-paced passages and acid-laden heavy grooves.
Buy the album here:
https://kingpotenaz.bandcamp.com/album/arcane-desert-rituals-vol-1
8 / 10
RALKA SKJERSETH
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