Friday 19 April 2013

Lair of the Minotaur - Godslayer EP (Review)

Album Type :  EP
Date Released : 20/4/2013
Label : The Grind-house
 
Godslayer, EP tracklisting :
1) Godslayer 4:24
2) The Black Heart of the Stygian Drakonas 4:03
 
Bio:
Celebrating ten years of clear-cut maliciousness through Greek mythology and unchecked riff savagery in 2013, Chicago trio LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR will storm back with a new EP this Spring.

While the members of LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR have been skulking around in the back-alleys of the underground over recent months, the band has been far from dormant. To commemorate a full decade of demolishing eardrums on record and on stage this year, the band will hammer their fanbase with a brand new EP for this year’s Record Store Day. Entitled Godslayer, the new 7” release bears two new tracks, with the surge of "Godslayer" opening up, and the monolithic "The Black Heart of the Stygian Drakonas" on the B-side, both tracks mastered by Scott Hull (Pig Destroyer). A limited edition of 300 copies will be pressed as a 7”, in addition to the digital download through iTunes, Amazon MP3 and the like, and as with their latest album Evil Power will be released on their own The Grind-House Records with distribution from previous label home, Southern Lord, for Record Store Day this April 20th.

Check out the Godslayer cover art designed by visual artist Tom Denney -- artist for LOTM’s Carnage EP, Ultimate Destroyer LP and s/t demo covers, and known for works for Kylesa, Sourvein, Soilent Green, Saint Vitus, Yakuza, Black Cobra, Rwake, Samothrace, Weedeater among others -- and other LAIR action RIGHT HERE.

In conjunction with Godslayer’s release, LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR will storm stages once again in April, starting with a free hometown Record Store Day show at Reckless Records in Chicago’s Wicker Park.

LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR Live:
4/20/2013 Reckless Records - Chicago, IL (FREE Record Store Day/Record Release Show
 
 
Line up:
Nate Olp – Bass
Steve Rathbone – Guitar / Vocals / Synth
Chris Wozniak – Drums
 
 
Review:
Chicago's Lair Of The Minotaur mix sludge with brutal non technical thrash to good effect here on this two track EP. The sound is rough, raw and Motorhead-like. The vibe of rock n roll rawness is apparent as soon as the first riff chugs into earshot.
 
A rather cool live sound with big drums, sounding as if they are being played in a  big room, possibly by a big man is very appealing. Think High On Fire with Mastodon in a take-no prisoners kind of mood. The EP title track goes for your jugular and rips away effectively. The vocals are barked with an almost hardcore urgency- they suit the sound very well.
 
The Black Heart Of the Stygian Drakonas” is the second and final track of this EP. Again, it showcases what LOTM do best; rock hard with a groove like feeling to even the faster passages. The guitars and bass rumble with dark intentions and the dry ride sound picks out the rhythm deftly. There is a terat of a riff just before the two minute mark that is used to great effect over some changes, before things go a bit sludgier.
 
Clocking in at just under ten minutes, this EP will provide long term fans what they want from LOTM, it will also introduce those new to them with a good solid two tracks. Hear it once, you will be a fan. You surely have ten minutes to spare, right?!
 
Words by : Richard Maw
 
 
As always show your support to the band. You can buy the record here from April 20th and download at the usual places. Thanks to EarSplit PR for the hook up.