Crystal Spiders – Morieris
With the second Crystal Spiders album, Morieris (Ripple Music), coming out just a year after Molt, it’s fair to say that it picks up where its predecessor left off. The guitar has a more noticeable presence courtesy of producer Mike Dean playing a more hands on role in the proceedings, but the songs remain primarily driven by Brenna Leath’s thumping bass and attitude-filled howls along with Tradd Yancey’s muscular drumming.
It has been thirty years since drummer / vocalist Jonas Renske and Anders “Blackheim” Nyström began a musical journey that would see them evolve from a studio-only project exploring their darker musical tastes to becoming one of the most respected purveyors of melancholic and post-Gothic music; always evolving with each album, embracing Gothic and progressive metal, and always distinctively Katatonia.
It’s fair to say that Kal-El’s fifth full-length is easily their most elaborate outing yet. The Norwegian quartet’s previous efforts have presented their brand of Stoner Metal with an increasingly spacy edge that seemed to peak with 2019’s Witches Of Mars. However, Dark Majesty (Majestic Mountain Records) sees the last signs of restraint fade into the ether; its eight tracks reach sprawling eight to ten-minute lengths that culminate to an hour-long experience, far eclipsing the runtime of albums past.
Witchcryer’s second full-length album comes with a noticeably broader scope in comparison to their 2018 debut. In contrast to the more groove-friendly approach to Doom Metal seen on Cry Witch, the song lengths on When Their Gods Come For You (Ripple Music) run longer with a greater emphasis on atmosphere and methodical structuring. The lyrics also work to give the album a more palpable sense of purpose, running the gamut of underworld and death figures from various world mythologies.
A lot has changed since Hour of 13’s last album, 333, came out in 2012. The project is now a one-man affair with bandleader/multi-instrumentalist Chad Davis playing all the parts himself, including vocals with Phil Swanson long out of the picture. That nine-year gap also saw a minor genre tug ‘o’ war take place as singles and EPs were torn between the Traditional Doom of albums past and Samhain-style Deathrock, often determined by whether the 13 was retained as a number or spelled out. With this somewhat convoluted frame in mind, it’s a relief to see the former style win out on their fourth full-length, Black Magick Rites (Shadow Kingdom Records).
Sad news to report as Eric Wagner, legendary Doom Metal vocalist of bands such as The Skull and formerly of Trouble has died, according to a report from The Obelisk website . He was 62 years old. Eric was to have performed with The Skull at Psycho Las Vegas this past weekend, and was in the midst of a co-headlining tour with The Obsessed. However, he ended up contracting COVID-19 and pneumonia as a result, before passing away as a result. The news was broken on social media by his son. Wagner carved out a legendary career in the genre of heavy metal as a vocalist for over 40 years, since coming out of Chicago. After an incredible run with Trouble in the 1980s which helped revive interest in traditional doom metal, heavy metal and adding other classic rock influences, before the bands’ reunion in 2007. After leaving the reunion he co-founded The Skull, and provided to be no less important, headlining festivals around the world and recording several key albums. This loss is devastating and we send our sympathies out to Eric’s family, friends, bandmates, and fans at this time. Continue reading
Mourn the Light – Suffer, Then We’re Gone
Mourn The Light offers Traditional Doom Metal with a few twists on their first full-length album. It doesn’t quite hit the full operatic scope of Epic Doom or reach the speeds of Classic Metal, but influences from both at work throughout Suffer, Then We’re Gone (Argonauta Records). The riffs and song structures are in line with the busy nature of Psalm 9-era Trouble while the vocals offer a husky but theatrical bellow, drawing further comparisons to groups like Altar Of Oblivion and Argus.Continue reading
South Africa Stoner Doom band Acid Magus has shared their new album, Wryd Sister today, July 30th, 2021 via Mongrel Records. Channelling their classic rock and Desert scene influences, the let’s it all hang out musically keep their throwback DIY ethos. Purchase and stream the album now at the link below.
Order here:
https://orcd.co/acidmagus_wyrdsyster
https://acidmagus.bandcamp.com/album/wyrd-syster
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Like the previous installment, the third chapter in Ripple Music’s Turned to Stone series is framed as a challenge between two contenders for Stoner Doom supremacy. But while Chapter II saw Howling Giant and Sergeant Thunderhoof put forth their competition as a battle of wits between mythic swordsmen, Chapter III is the culmination of an ongoing meme war between Merlin and Wizzerd. It also operates on a similar template as each band is given a full epic track to put their best foot forward.
Modern Heavy Metal leaders Spirit Adrift has shared a new single and lyric video/visualizer for the track “Forge Your Future.” The song is the title track of their upcoming new three-song EP releasing on August 27th via Century Media Records. You can pre-order the vinyl (due in October) and stream the track at all DSPs right now! The band has also announced Forge Your Future features Preston Bryant on synthesizers, and they will be joined by Sonny DeCarlo on bass in live settings moving forward.