Wednesday 8 October 2014

SUMERU - Holy Lands (Album Review)

Holy Lands cover art

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 06th October 2014

Holy Lands - track listing:

1.Om Tathagata 04:32
2.Holy Lands 04:10
3.Lion Rider 05:32
4.Beyond The Skull 05:04
5.All I Am 05:33
6.Keepers 02:09
7.Balrogs 11:18

Members

Matt Power - Vocals.
Peter Bursky - Guitar.
Chris Wilson - Guitar.
Reg Barber - Bass.
Andres Hyde - Drums

Review:

Sumeru style of Sludge/Stoner Metal music is reminiscent of the legendary NOLA Sludge/Stoner Metal scene. Matt's vocals have a distinct Phil Anselmo vibe while the guitars are heavily influenced by the legendary riffsters from the NOLA Swamps. Holy Lands is one hard rocking party full of great riffs and grooves to chew on. Holy Lands is 38 minutes of finely tuned Sludge/Stoner Metal that will appeal to all fans of Southern/Sludge Metal. Though these guys are from Australia. Sumeru have written some great tunes here that is perfect mosh-pit material.

Sumeru know they aren't going to change the world of Sludge/Stoner Metal with their music but that doesn't stop showing how musically talented they are by playing at a blistering pace with intense vocals to match. Opening track - Om Tathagata - starts with a fast-paced machine gun style riff to show that Sumeru mean business. So sit back and let these Sludge Rockers from Down Under do their thing as this album is one action packed ride from start to finish. It is great to hear band pay homage to their heroes but still release an album of awesome tunes such as this. Tracks such as Lion Rider, Holy Lands and Beyond The Skull have a violent addictive energy to them that fans of Zakk Wylde will drool over. 

Sumeru have written some fantastic lyrics to singalong to. The riffs are played with precision and deft timing that only adds to the heavy as heck atmospherics. Holy Lands makes you feel alive at times especially on the anthemic - All I Am - that captures the 'legendary Southern/Sludge Metal energy down to a fine art.

Sumeru add elements of Psych Rock and even Punk to their music at different parts of the album. So maybe It's where the band fully start to come in their own existence and where I actually began to love this album for what it is. An excellent hard-rocking album with plenty of great riffs to offer. Sumera leave the best track till last with the 11-minute epic - Balrogs. A heavy and epic sounding tune that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. It plays out like an epic war-cry to the Sludge/Stoner Metal world where the weapon of choice is the deadly destructive riffs that Sumeru abandon all hope with. It can be very bleak at times but you can't deny how powerfully loud it all becomes. Sumeru have delivered an excellent debut album that should find them a solid fanbase over the next few months or so.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Thanks to the band for sending me a copy to review. Holy Lands is now available to buy on DD via BandCamp and Vinyl on Arrest Records / White Winter Records


Written by: Steve Howe



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