Album Type: Album
Date Released:
Feb 2014
Label:
Black Bow Records/Burning
World Records
Spectres track
listing:
1.In The Beginning
2.Denizens
3.Spectres
4.Psychonauts
5.Outside The
Circles Of Time
The
Band Members
Craig
Bryant
Jon
Lee
Gavin
Thomas
Review:
I am going to say this
now but SPECTRES is an AMAZING album. This is my fave record of 2014
so far. Nothing will prepare you to the stunning and brutal riffs
that await you on Spectres. BAST are going to destroy your world with
this album with it's heavy and dangerous mix of genre defying riffs.
First track – In The
Beginning – might start off like a Black Metal album though it's
anything but. Bast's music is an intelligent mix of Black Metal,
Doom, Sludge, Hardcore and Post-Rock and its' pretty heavy through
out with sublime lyrics which portrays Bast's haunting vision
to perfection. This is pure unwanted destruction at it's finest.
There is a certain poetic beauty to this track despite the heavy
carnage crushing things around you. Craig vocals
are shouted at you with intense passion and fury that makes it even
more impossible to ignore the startling vision of Bast.
Second Track –
Denizens – is one of the albums stand-out tracks as it's pure
unwanted Doom Metal terror through out with a hint of cool ambient
Post-Rock vibes lurking through the darkness. This song shows why
Bast are considered one of the best upcoming bands from the UK
Underground scene in 2014. Bast prove they are not afraid to
experiment with their music as they expertly move from one genre to
the next with style, grace and originality. The riffs are powerful
as hell and will crush you even more into submission. Witness the
power of Bast in full flight here as the album only becomes even
better from here on in.
The 5 tracks on
Spectres range from 7 mins to 11 mins in length. As Bast deal in all
things LOUD, HEAVY and EPIC.
Third Track –
Spectres – starts off with a thunderous riff that instantly draws
you in before Bast unleash the thunderous doom onslaught upon to your
fragile soul. Spectres sees Bast at their most intense and possibly
in their most straight forward song on the album as it's purely an
Atmospheric Doom Metal song through and through. Jon and Gavin are
immense on Drums and Bass respectively as they bring some heavy and
spectacular riffs to the field. You can feel each pounding riff
driving a steak to your heart towards the end. Spectacular stuff.
Fourth Track –
Psychonauts – is a 12 minute instrumental epic which is my fave
track off Spectres. As even with Bast not signing any creepy lyrics
they are still a truly dangerous band to contend with. Psychonauts
starts off with a psych/ambient based riff that slowly takes time to
build the noise and atmospherics before unleashing hell on earth with
epic riffs that will leave you in a hypnotic trance for days.
Instrumental music at it's finest. Damn – Even Pelican would be
proud to call this track one of their own.
And
Bast have one more track to leave you in an emotional wreck with. And
what a stunning track it is. The 10:40 minute epic – Outside The
Circles Of Time – starts off with a dreamlike post-rock ambient
quiet intro before subtle hints of darker based riffs starting
creeping and then Craig's vocals give this track an ever more
psychedelic vibe. Just wait until the 3:30 minute mark where Bast
unleash hell on earth for one more epic final battle of riffs and
noises that collides into a loud war of noise. This ends the album on
a brilliant high. You don't know what you have just witnessed but you
want to listen to it again.
The
production is brilliantly pitched through out which isn't surprising
since it was recorded at Skyhammers Studios which is owned by Jon
Davis from CONAN. It has been expertly produced by Chris Fielding who
has produced for Conan and Moss in the past. Well done Chris for
making this one of the best sounding début albums I have heard in a
long time.
You want more
convincing to check out Bast. We love this album at Sludgelord HQ.
Don't be surprised if Spectres ends up on a few of the teams best of 2014
records list. It's seriously that good.
Spectres is a brilliant
début album that shows Bast are on the verge of greatness. Catch
them while you can as these guys are going to be huge in the years to
come.
Thanks
to Bast, Black Bow Records and Burning World Records for sending us a
promo to review.
Spectres
is available to buy from Feb 2014 from Black Bow Records on Vinyl and
Burning World Records on CD and Vinyl.
Check
The Band From Links Below
BandCamp - There is a live demo available for Buy Now Download of Denizens available.
Written
by Steve Howe
