The sophomore album from Portland’s Tar Pit, Scrying the Angel Gate (Transylvanian Recordings), sets Lovecraftian themes against a style of doom that relishes the blues-based jams. An organ haunting the opening track from the back of the mix. The backbone of the song is a lumbering wall of fuzzed-out riffage. This song eventually builds the dynamic into a more metallic attack. Vocalist Don Gozalo brings an emotive howl to the songs. Unlike most doom frontmen, he is not as blatant an Ozzy disciple. This helps set their overall sound apart from their peers.
The three-and-a-half-minute “Covern Vespers” finds the band cranking out a more restrained rock song that packs a compact punch rather than sprawling out. This goes to show that even a doom band should prove themselves to be able to rein in the indulgent atmosphere and be able to write a straight-up rock song. The vocals sit further back into the guitars on this one. “Jubilee” is less jubilant than the boogie of the previous song and carries a darker blues creep. The guitar player impresses me on this one. There is more Sabbath influence in this one than in the previous songs.
“Blue Light Cemetery” finds the vocals back in the sweet spot, belting it out from his pained chest register. There are some uncertain moments in the more introspective phrasing at the beginning of the song. Midway into the song, it wanders off into a jam. They lock back in with the stomp of a heavier before the song’s end. There is an organic warmth to what they do that does not automatically find them sounding like a metal band, and their willingness to experiment and jam helps play into that.
“Blessed King of Longing” finds the band coming closer to the expectations of traditional doom. The drummer leans into his Bill Ward influence, which is not a bad thing to bring to the table. There is more of a Vol. 4 feel to the title track, as they close the album with the vocals crying out from within the wall of guitars. Midway through the song, the atmosphere shifts into a darker, more subdued tone. This displays their commitment to taking chances and doubling down on dynamics. With the passing of Ozzy, there will surely be a parade of bands carrying the torch for Sabbath in a different way that does not make these guys a tribute band, but brings their sound to the table. More bong-centric doom fans should rejoice in what these guys are doing, and will find that even their heavier moments will not harsh their buzz.
Buy the album here:
https://tarpitdoom.bandcamp.com/album/scrying-the-angel-gate
8 / 10
WIL CIFER
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