Best known as a meticulous blend of Black and Death Metal that caters to the specific niche of Enslaved, Blut Aus Nord, and Spectral Wound fans, Drouth has been around for some time presenting apocalyptic sounds with brutal precision. Recently, they returned, delivering ferocious aggressions with the release of their third full-length entitled The Teeth of Time–out now via Eternal Warfare Records. Conceptually, this album narrates existentially profound topics and contemplative discourses such as the idea of decay, fate, and entropy, as well as defiance against the corrosion of time. It is also an album that exists as a form of revolt against the idea of nihilism, as a means of creative rebellion coming from Drouth.Continue reading
Tag Archives: Billy Anderson
ALBUM REVIEW: The Keening – Little Bird
Ex-SubRosa leading member Rebecca Vernon embarks on a solo project journey four years after SubRosa’s disbandment under the moniker of The Keening, presenting a full-length consisting of Gothic Chamber Doom elements, accompanied by the feature of a handful of instruments, being flute, strings, harp, French horn, piano, organ, and hammered dulcimer – creating a vast multitude of echoed soundscapes.
Eight Bells to Release Their Next Album in 2021 via Prophecy Productions
In a new interview with The Obelisk, Melynda Marie Jackson has revealed the new album from the acclaimed Eight Bells is nearing release. Their third album was produced by frequent collaborator Billy Anderson (Neurosis, SLEEP) and it will be released via Prophecy Productions (Alcest, Antimatter). The band has a new-ish lineup as well. Melynda commented:
EXCLUSIVE ALBUM STREAM: Rosy Finch – “Scarlet”
Spanish Sludge band Rosy Finch will release their brand new album Scarlet tomorrow, and Ghost Cult is bringing you the full album stream. For those unfamiliar with the band, they will immediately remind you of similar uncompromising, eclectic and heavy bands like Kylesa, Acid King, Baroness (old-school), early Mastodon and Le Butcherettes too. Scarlet was recorded and mixed at Red Records Studio and Surnia Records with mastering handled by producing legend Billy Anderson (Neurosis). Jam out the album right now! Continue reading
Holy Grove – Holy Grove II
Formed in 2012 in Portland, Oregon, doomsters Holy Grove follow-up their 2016 debut Holy Grove (Heavy Psych Sounds) with the rather imaginatively titled Holy Grove II (Ripple Music). Thankfully, the music contained on this weighty slab of metal is far more inventive than its moniker, as the band delivers five mighty tracks of absorbing progressive Cosmic Doom.Continue reading
Castle Signs New Deal With Ripple Music, New Album Due This Fall
California Stoner-rock and doom band Castle has signed with Ripple Music for the release of their new album, Deal Thy Fate. The album is coming out on October 19th, on vinyl, limited edition vinyl, CD and all digital services. Recorded by Billy Anderson (Sleep, Neurosis) and follows 2016’s Welcome To The Graveyard release. Jam the title track of the new album right now in this teaser trailer!Continue reading
Iron Tongue Signs To Neurot Recordings
Southern rock apostles Iron Tongue have signed to Neurot Recordings, and are bringing their debut full-length album, The Dogs Have Barked, The Birds Have Flown, to bear on May 27th. Continue reading
Bell Witch – Mirror Reaper
One track spanning a massive 83 minutes is going to be an intimidating listen no matter which artist spawned it, but when that track is as grief-stricken, slow-building, and earth-shatteringly heavy as Bell Witch’s Mirror Reaper (Profound Lore), it’s going to take more time and patience than some people can muster. Given the deserved attention, however, Mirror Reaper is easily one of the most breath-taking releases of the year. This is a tribute to a departed friend, burdened by bereavement but tragically beautiful, and is not for the faint of heart.Continue reading
Bell Witch Announces New Album, Pre-Orders Available
Seattle based doom band Bell Witch have announced their new full-length album, Mirror Reaper, their third, due out this October 20th via Profound Lore Records. Details below.Continue reading
Ommadon – Ommadon
Doom tends to be somewhat formulaic, it’s part of its gloomy charm. To be appreciated fully it’s generally best to be played at skeleton shaking volume. As a whole the genre isn’t particularly suited for records unless you happen to have a wall of cabinets in your house raring and ready to give your neighbours tinnitus. Ommadon’s eponymously titled album on Dry Cough Records follows that doom formula very well. Fleshed out with production from Billy Anderson meaning that the tone is excellent throughout both tracks.
The problem sets in somewhat with the fact that as it’s a two-piece instrumental doom act, they’ve kind of played themselves into a corner. What they do is good, but there’s not really all that much which they can do to make it stand out from the many other doom bands playing the same standard ‘bumbum bumbum BAAAM’ doom riff.
By foregoing vocals, the focus goes entirely onto the music to carry the emotion of the piece and unfortunately no matter how good the tone or the performance the standard hit the guitar/drums, wait, repeat formula just lacks an emotional depth after hearing it repeated for half an hour.
That’s not to say that it doesn’t have merit, with the tone and competency I would imagine this really comes into its own live, with the benefit of much higher volume, a mesmerised audience filling a small sweaty venue on a dreek day. Then it would have relevance and connect with the listener.
However, on record there’s nothing really hear which separates it from any other doom band I’ve heard. What it does is competent, with a great tone. However, there’s little to make it stand out from the crowd.
6.0/10
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