Wednesday 15 January 2014

DRAWERS - S/T Album Review

Drawers cover art

Drawers is a Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal Band from Toulouse, France

The members are:

Niko Bastide - Vocals
Olivier Lolmède - Drums
Jérémie Ruiz - Bass
Alexandre Berenguer - Guitar
Laurent Bringer - Guitar

After a debut EP, "This Is Oil" (Deadlight, 2008), an impressively massive full-length,"All Is One" (Slowburn, 2011) along the lines of Mastodon and Baroness, constant touring in Europe and a split EP with fellow French Stoner / Doomsters Hangman’s Chair ("Moodisorder," 2012), DRAWERS decided in a wise move that doing killer music wasn’t enough and that being able to reinvent themselves was way more interesting than releasing the same album over and over, as killer that album could be.

They stripped down their material while keeping everything that made them such a praise outfit in their scene - heaviness, catchiness and a killer sense of groove and song-writing- and recorded their new, self-titled, second full-length live in the studio to capture the essence of their art. Keeping things as straight forward and down to Earth as they could, being on disc what they really stand for live - a supercharged, high-octane, groove machine whose music is as captivating as enjoyable and which stage presence is as intense as entertaining.

Ditching obvious references to their early influences, DRAWERS grows and matures, crafting with that new album a full set of instant hits that will have the listeners hooked upon the very first listen, sing along and for sure continue singing their tunes way after the record stopped playing. Expect them live everywhere as, to quote the band, they are "seriously ready to play wherever they can!" 


 Drawers are back with their 2nd S/T album. 3 years after their excellent debut album - All Is One - we see a different band compared to their debut album. Their new album is 25 minutes shorter than their debut at 31 minutes in length. But the guys are more focused than ever before. Fans of Baroness, Mastodon and Torche will rejoice as Drawers are ready to lay claim to their crown!!!

First track - Once And For All - has a hard hitting and energetic hardcore based vibe which gives the band a louder more precise sound. Some people may miss the epic tracks from their debut album as most of the songs are on 4 mins in length. It's a brilliant approach as Drawers get straight down to business of playing some serious kick-ass riffs. So you're never bored for a second.

Tracks such as Mourning, It's All About Love and Bleak show that Drawers have evolved into better musicians since their debut album. Though the band have still managed to include epic riffs within the short time frame of the tracks.

The album sees Drawers finally establishing themselves as serious contenders within the Sludge/Stoner Metal world. The song-writing has improved brilliantly since their debut album as the lyrics are a lot more direct and more hard hitting as well. While some of Drawers sludge metal peers have embraced their pop sound, it's great to see a band sticking to playing intense fast-paced riffs and superb sing-along lyrics to match. So you can join in singing your heart out with the band and believe me you will.

Drawers are well respected within the French Metal Scene but they now have the potential to be the next breakout stars of the French Sludge/Stoner Metal scene.

The album is at it's most heaviest and loudest on Shadow Dancers. One of the albums standout tracks which has powerful lyrics through out. Lead vocalist Niko is on blazing form through out. His vocals full of intensity and equally matching the sublime instrumental work the Drawers brotherhood are playing through out the album.

The 2nd half of the album is definitely the loudest and features some of the albums best tracks - Words - is the perfect example of how to write a song packed full of intense rage and anger while still including an endearing musical melody that Torche are well known for. Though Drawers are definitely their own band.

2013 was a great year for French Slduge/Stoner Metal thanks to bands such as Los Disidentes Del Sucio Motel, Crown and Wheelfall. Now in 2014 we have Drawers to start things with a bang. Drawers is the first essential album you need to own in 2014. It's a brilliant album packed full of great songs you can listen to over and over again.


I predict big things for Drawers over the next 12 months or so. Buy this album when it's finally unleashed upon to the world.

Simply Unmissable.

Thanks to Clawhammer PR for sending a promo to review. Drawers S/T album is out to buy on Kaotoxin Records from Feb 11th 2014.

Check The Band From Links Below

Facebook
BandCamp - You can download All Is One from BandCamp Buy Now Deal. An excellent debut album.