REVIEW: Kings Destroy - "None More" (EP)

By: Ben Fitts

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 13/01/2017

Label: War Crime Recordings

 A varied listen, “None More” is the work of an experienced band weaving together disparate soundscapes into a cohesive, effective unit. The EP nods to old school heavy metal, incorporates slithering doom metal, plays with softer sounds, and keeps the listener engaged from the first twenty-four second long note until the thirty seconds of feedback that end “None More”.

 

“None More” CS//DD track listing:

I. Rise of the Betrayer

II. The Blood Waters

III. The Battle

IV. The Requiem

V. The Awakening

VI. Rise of the Betrayer (Reprise)

 

The Review:

The first note of the EP “None More”, by New York City’s doom quintet Kings Destroy, rings out for a full twenty-four seconds, until the whine of feedback swells and envelops the original pitch. From there, notes are added sparsely. In opening track “Rise of the Betrayer”, soft spoken vocals float over skeletal riffs struggling over the hum of amplifiers until over two and a half minutes into the EP. Then, Kings Destroy pull the curtain off their creation.

Twin guitars harmonize, the vocals roughen, a churning groove begins boiling underneath, and the listener becomes thrust into a whole new musical world. Steve Murphy’s operatic vocals soar through a din of galloping riffs and spirited guitar harmonies. However, “None More” is not the kind of EP content with riding one wave of feeling until the end. The tempos soon wind down once again as Kings Destroy experiment with several new textures and feels over the remaining eight minutes of “None More”. Gloomy melodicism, spacious strumming and even a slow burning power ballad work their way into this EP.

Given the diversity found within these fifteen minutes of music, it is difficult to point to key elements or to define the essence of “None More”. However, there are consistencies to be found between the six tracks tracks. While the EP flits between different feelings, attitudes and musical elements, it never abandons its strong melodic focus and every track displays Kings Destroy ability to construct dramatic changes in dynamics in a natural way. A varied listen, “None More” is the work of an experienced band weaving together disparate soundscapes into a cohesive, effective unit. The EP nods to old school heavy metal, incorporates slithering doom metal, plays with softer sounds, and keeps the listener engaged from the first twenty-four second long note until the thirty seconds of feedback that end “None More”.

“None More” has less of the ripping, doomed rock and roll riffing that defined Kings Destroy previous full-lengths, this EP is about something else. “None More” unfurls quickly and its strength lie both within the individuality of each track and its contrast to the music that preceded it. While “None More” has its headbanging moments and spots that are very reminiscent of Kings Destroy previous efforts, in the end, it is a step into something new for Kings Destroy. 

“None More” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Buried At Sea - 'Migration' Reissue (Album Review)

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: Full Length (Reissue)

Date Released: 12/2015

Label: War Crime Recordings

After the squeals of feedback, the chords, drums and vocals kick in simultaneously with the force of a boot to the face. A trance like middle section battens down the hatches and prepares for the eventual destructive storm that soon develops.  You're left feeling like a survivor from the Titanic; battered and bruised but thankful to be alive to tell the tale.  This record is absolutely essential for fans of crushing doom

‘Migration’ LP track listing:

1). Untitled (I)

2). Untitled (II)

3) Untitled (III)

Buried at Sea is

Bill Daniel | Drums

Jason Depew | Guitars

Brian Sowell | Bass, vocals

Sanford Parker | Guitars, vocals

The Review:

If I was asked to use 3 words to describe Buried At Sea I would say 'REALLY FUCKING HEAVY' because Sandford Parker and Co really are heavier than you.  'Migration' was released in 2003 and perforated eardrums on its initial release. Now reissued through Parker's own War Crime Recordings for the first time on vinyl, it's a chance for those who missed the boat (a maritime warship in this case) to get on it and sink with it. 

'Untitled I' which is a reworking of 'Man In Search Of the Perfect Weapon' from their 2002 demo, attacks the senses from all angles. After the squeals of feedback, the chords, drums and vocals kick in simultaneously with the force of a boot to the face. A trance like middle section battens down the hatches and prepares for the eventual destructive storm that soon develops. It builds and builds before cutting out to let some sound effects creep in, then it's all hands on deck as the riff from the aforementioned demo song rears its colossal brow from the murky depths.

Some wintry wind noises bridge the gap between that and 'Untitled II' before its bone crushing guitar sound saws through with the doomiest riff on the album. A fragment of a post metal riff is played before it gets ridiculously heavy again and I'm beginning to wonder what I've done to deserve such a level of sonic punishment. The song goes through several transformations before settling on a hammer and nails doom. 'Untitled III' was called 'The Aquanaut' on the demo and is the song I've listened to the most by BAS. Building from a brooding melodic guitar riff, the track gathers momentum before cutting out and another bludgeoning riff takes hold.

Vocals from Parker and bassist Brian Sowell work in tandem and to devastating effect, occupying slightly different frequencies with their screams. Even when they split the vocal duties they still sound devastating. After a run of riff and hammer, it's over. You're left feeling like a survivor from the Titanic; battered and bruised but thankful to be alive to tell the tale.

This record is absolutely essential for fans of crushing doom. If you have this digitally or on CD, now’s your chance to hear it in its rawest form. Hipster doomsters beware; abandon ship, this is the real DOOM.

‘Migation’ is available here

FFO: Sea of Bones, Minsk, Neurosis, Eyehategod

Band info: facebook

Kings Destroy - 'Kings Destroy' (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 05/05/2015

Label: War Crime Recordings

‘Kings Destroy’ CD//DD//LP track Listing

1). Smokey Robinson

2). Mr O

3). W2

4). Mythomania

5). Embers

6). Green Diamonds

7). Time for War

Kings Destroy is:

Carl Porcaro | Guitar
Chris Skowronski | Guitar
Steve Murphy | Vocals
Rob Sefcik | Drums
Aaron Bumpus | Bass

Review:

Since their inaugural 2010 release, Kings Destroy have set out to show what they are made of, evident with their 2013 release ‘A Time of Hunting’ which went down a treat amongst fans and critics alike.  With their unique ability to blend an eclectic mix of Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age and Black Sabbath into an immense wall of sound, they had a monolithic task ahead of them for their 2015 self-titled offering.  Taking the next logical step up, KD produce this 7 song album with an earthy, organic twist alongside stellar production and phenomenal artistry.

‘Smokey Robinson’ is the starting point, opening with a riff so sharp; it carves its way out of the speakers with ease surrounded by Murphy’s clean, piercing vocals matching the musicality with ease. To be blunt, yes it is the work of men who have knelt at the shrine of Black Sabbath on a regular basis but I fail to see this as a bad thing. The grooves and hooks they thrash around are doom laden and majestic; the likes of which don’t come around too often.

‘Mr O’ is next, bringing an unapologetic, emphatic, stoner rock song; ladled out with a huge serving of unashamed honesty.  It finds a friend later in the album with ‘Green Diamonds’ but has no need to, as it stands alone; a beast of a song replete with more frenetic movement and blistering solo work than one could ask for. ‘W2’ is immense, grinding, whining and battering the doors down upon arrival, it pummels the senses revelling in the destruction and chaos it brings. The vocals are flat out haunting imbibed with melodiousness; the tonality- superb. On the back of a gargantuan riff, that deserves its own place in history, it will hammer its way unapologetically into your conscience in twisted and unexpected ways making itself at home in your psyche urging you to press the replay button.

I begin to struggle as I realise there is not one song I don’t like, they all have their own place from ‘Mythomania’ winding down the pace before reaching a massive crescendo of sound and aural pummelling before dropping back down.  It could almost be a ballad and certainly a master class in song writing. ‘Embers’, is just crushing and also the longest track on the album, it is followed by the shortest ‘Green Diamonds’ upbeat in comparison with an early 70’s vibe that just won’t quit.  Again, it crushes and bruises whilst sedating you gently with the audible talent.  These pair of tracks bounce off each other so very well here, a nod to the superb arrangement, is also worth mentioning too. 

‘Time for War’ is the finale here, and what a finale it is.  It builds eerily; imagery of a swirling fog inducing haze abounds, alongside the heavy, simplistic bass lines and doom laden drumming.  It is here, Murphy adopts a disconnected tone to his voice, indeed the track displays a different approach from the band, but make no mistake it is a stoner driven, sludge filled epic.

As previously indicated, whether by accident or design this is less of an album, more of a journey, rewarding with the odd challenge thrown in, but bound together with highest quality production for good measure.  Encircling so many genres, Kings Destroy could have easily tripped up, yet they haven’t, embracing the future of doom in its complexities, quasi prog leanings, KD have performed well here. Refusing to fit into one style; even keeping the length of their album to just 34 minutes, shielding themselves from the stoner rock genre in its entirety. It is a heavy record, of that you should have no doubt, but it is not over-long and contains enough light, shade and subtlety to ensure they make themselves heard but not pigeonholed.

Three albums in, their song writing is diverse yet confident, flowing from fierce hooks to oppressive atmospherics fluidly and with ease.  With such quality and calibre shining through as well as the passion and execution, they are sure to cut their own individual path through the smoked out haze.

Words by: Kat Hilton

‘Kings Destroy’ is available here

For more information:

Listen: https://kingsdestroy.bandcamp.com/ | Like: http://www.facebook.com/KingsDestroy | Official: http://www.kingsdestroy.com/

The Sludgelord News: KINGS DESTROY: Brooklyn Stoner Rock/Doom Unit To Release New Full-Length Via War Crime Recordings; Preorders Available

Brooklyn stoner /doom crew KINGS DESTROY, a firm favourite at Sludgelord acres, are set to unveil their new record, with a release date set for May 5th. Simply titled ‘King Destroy’, this self titled record is the follow-up to last years ‘A Time Of Hunting’ full length.  Once again the band has teamed up with famed producer, Sanford Parker at Studio G in Brooklyn, to record and mix it, with the master being handled by Colin Jordan at The Boiler Room in Chicago. 

The new release will be their third album in four years, with the band being championed by Yob guitarist/vocalist Mike Scheidt, he exclaims "It's a great album. Heavy, yes. Doom? Yes, But what is best about KINGS DESTROY is that they write good songs. Helmet meets early Queens Of The Stone Age meets Kyuss/Unida, roughly. [Steve] Murphy's vocals are strong and really steps up what is already killer.” Now that’s high praise indeed. 

You can check out our most recent review of their work here. The track listing for ‘Kings Destroy’ can found below and with killer artwork to match, this album is set to be their best yet.  Check out this band if you haven’t already, with more updates to follow over the forthcoming weeks. 

‘Kings Destroy’ Track Listing:

1. Smokey Robinson

2. Mr. O

3. W2

4. Mythomania

5. Embers

6. Green Diamonds

7. Time for War

Kings Destroy will be released on LP, CD and digitally on May 5th, 2015 via War Crime Recordings. CD preorders are currently available HERE. For vinyl preorders go HERE. 

Source:  Earsplit PR

Posted by: Aaron Pickford

For more information:

http://www.facebook.com/KingsDestroy 

http://www.kingsdestroy.com 

http://www.facebook.com/WarCrimeRecordings 

Corrections House - Writing History in Advance (Live Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 02/12/2014

Label: War Crime Recordings

‘Writing History in Advance’ CD//DD track listing:

1). Side A (16:29)

2). Side B (21:08)

3). Side C (20:25)

4). Side D (15:54)

Review:

'Corrections House come the closest underground metal has to offer in terms of a genuinely exciting super group line-up. No doubt Scott Kelly (Neurosis, The Road Home), Mike IX Williams (Eyehategod), Bruce Lamont (Yakuza) and Sanford Parker (Minsk) don't see themselves that way. Labelling yourself a super group must require ego and pretention far beyond the possession of artists of this calibre, and the remarkably cohesive output of music here bears none of the hallmarks of creative arrogance. Indeed the artists' decision to implement a sort of uniform and ubiquitous image in all their material is testament to this - the product stands for itself, its creators simply being vessels through which it comes to be.

'Writing History in Advance' is a live recording of Corrections House performing in Los Angeles, and is remarkably good quality. The record stands as proof of the band's ability thanks to a well thought out recording system and mostly great live sound. It also stands as a sad reminder of the difficulties underground artists face as the rare break in the music is met with subdued applause from what sounds like a crowd numbering only in the dozens.

The set itself starts off with a full four and a half minutes of garbled maniacal mumblings over gentle synth drones before the band's characteristic mechanical percussion inserts itself with a sledgehammer blow of emotionless force.

A fuzzed slab of guitar dooms its way in after a few measures and vocals, full of delay and grit, rant their way through the mix. This is Corrections House, a strange exercise in how much four hugely talented underground musicians can adapt to create a cohesive noise that both fails to be the sum of its parts yet transcends expectations imposed by the members' main projects.

Indeed the music feels like it effortlessly escapes the obvious grasps of listeners wishing to identify it as being one part Neurosis, one part Eyehategod etc. Around two thirds of the way through the set the electronic percussive battery dies away, giving room for plaintive guitar and spoken word verses that drip with melancholy, before the horror resumes in full force.

Thematically, Corrections House utilise dystopian imagery and lyrics that fits the industrial sound that lies at the heart of their material. More '1984' than 'The Handmaid's Tale', the world of Corrections House is mechanised and brutal, macrocosmic rather than introspective. Initially a turn off for me, this image seemed lacking in the obtuse mystique I had come to expect from the band members. In the context of this project, however, it fits like a glove.

Around half an hour in Mike IX sincerely thanks the paltry audience for actually applauding and attending something 'a little different'. I had the privilege of seeing Corrections House at Roadburn Festival 2014 and can attest to the passion the band play with. These are men approaching middle age, having played extreme music for decades, and all still brimming with creativity and love for the fantastic chaos they create. They are behind such incredible albums as 'The Ritual Fires of Abandonment' and 'Samsara', and frankly seeing them together onstage struck me as deserving of reverence.

Outside of Youth Code or Author & Punishment, I can think of little industrial metal that gets attention from the respectable side of the extreme music press. Mike IX sums up the experience of Corrections House well, when he ends the set by again thanking the audience, saying, 'Thanks for being open minded and checking out something different, y'know. Cos some people don't fucking get it, they don't know what to do. They get all scared and weirded out..'. And he's right, most people will reject the abrasive and aurally obscene, unable to find the beauty in the horror. Poor bastards.'

Words by: Jake Mazlum

You can pick up the DD here and CD here

For more information:

https://warcrimerecordings.bandcamp.com/ | http://warcrimerecordings.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/WarCrimeRecordings | https://www.facebook.com/CorrectionsHouse