Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 17/02/2017
Label: Prophecy Productions
It is rare that an album is able to make one completely forget about
their real world surroundings and bring them somewhere else entirely. “Here Now, There Then” is an otherworldly brew
of eeriness, effective hooks and nefarious rock and roll. It is the soundtrack of a lost soul stumbling
upon something evil and long forgotten, only to find it wide awake and waiting.
“Here Now, There Then” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1. Vantablack
2. Golden Serpents
3. Words On Paper
4. In Her Darkest Hour
5. Oweynagat
6. The Alpha
7. The Death Of Love
8. She Goat
2. Golden Serpents
3. Words On Paper
4. In Her Darkest Hour
5. Oweynagat
6. The Alpha
7. The Death Of Love
8. She Goat
The Review:
It
is rare that an album is able to make one completely forget about their real
world surroundings and bring them somewhere else entirely. On “Here
Now, There Then”, that somewhere else is ancient, otherworldly, mystic
and evil. Gloomy guitar chimes are interwoven with Ryanne van Dorst’s haunting
vocals and a cryptic atmosphere. “Here Now, There Then” is the soundtrack of a lost soul
stumbling upon something evil and long forgotten, only to find it wide awake
and waiting.
The
creators of this somewhere else are Dutch dark rock quintet DOOL.
Given the natural ease with which DOOL administer their wicked mysticism, it
might seem surprising at first that “Here Now, There Then” is actually the group’s first album.
But DOOL’s
obvious experience is explained, as their line-up boast membership in the
occult rock outfit The Devil’s Blood, as well as the bands Gold
and The New
Media.
DOOL’s sound is in a similar
vein to that of The
Devil’s Blood (which featured both DOOL bassist Job van de Zande
and drummer Micha Haring), and fans of The Devil’s Blood are sure to be satisfied
with their rhythm section’s new project. Both groups have a knack for crafting dreary
but ridiculously catchy hooks, filled with arcane lyricism and bubble with
witchy personality. But despite retaining many of the most lovable qualities of
their former band, on “Here Now, There Then”, DOOL demonstrate they are very much their own
band.
“Here Now,
There Then” is packed full of
headbangable guitar riffing, driving rhythms and nods to classic metal and doom
that were not prevalent in the generally softer recordings by The Devil’s
Blood. Although a rock band first, DOOL are not afraid to wander
over the line where dark psychedelia gives way to heavy metal, as evidenced by
tracks such as “The Alpha”, “Words On Paper” and “She-Goat”.
Conversely, DOOL also demonstrate their ability to craft
mellower sounds throughout the album, most notably on “The Death Of Love”. The
standout track on the album is perhaps its second song, “Golden Serpents”. Striking
the perfect balance between DOOL’s softer moments and their penchant for
sinister heaviness, “Golden Serpents” features superbly crafted melodies, ghostly
tones, powerful dynamics and general themes of the occult in abundance. The blend of hooks and evil found on “Golden
Serpents” will likely appeal to fans of Swedish breakout stars Ghost,
and for good reason.
“Here Now,
There Then” is an otherworldly brew of
eeriness, effective hooks and nefarious rock and roll.
“Here Now, There Then” is available preorder/buy here
