Album Type: Album
Date Released:
21st
April 2014
Label:
Candlelight Records
Darkness Died
Today track listing:
01 Dragging The
Bones
02Guided By
Mountains
03 Return To Earth
04 Godspeeder
05Tribe Of The Old
Oak
06 Obelisk
07 Freedom Engines
08 Sleeping With The
Dogs
Bio:
Beneath
the soil of a Welsh valley a heavy metal life-force regained
strength: rising from the ashes of psychedelic doom merchants
Acrimony, Sigiriya was born. Not wanting the limitations of reforming
a project long dead to them, Sigiriya come from the earthy depths,
bringing hefty, tremor-inducing sonics that pay homage to the riff.
In 2012, the prestigious Church Within Records (Germany) released the
full length album, ‘Return To Earth’ with much critical acclaim.
Time
served in the likes of Iron Monkey, Dukes of Nothing, Black Eye Riot,
The Nine, Suns of Thunder and Tabularasa have forged their thick
output, giving the foursome a more dynamic, meaner, leaner, earthier
approach, which has developed an intense dirty sound.
Taking
their name from the mystic ‘throat of the lion’ rock in Sri
Lanka, their rumble has been moving the Black Mountains of their
homeland and they’ve been moving the tectonic plates of the earth
via shows and festivals across Europe and the UK including the
prestigious Roadburn Festival, Desert fest, Stoned From the
Underground among others….
The
new album ‘Darkness Died Today’ was recorded live onto analogue
tape at Sonic One with Tim Hamill. The mixing was done by Andrew
Schneider (Shrine builder, Scissor fight, Big Business…) in New
York and finally mastering with Richard Whittaker in London. The new
album builds on the sonic foundation of Return To Earth and soars to
even greater heights with the addition of new vocalist Matt ‘Pipes’
Williams.
The
Band Members
Matt
‘Pipes’ Williams (vocals)
Darren
Ivey (drums),
Stu
O’Hara (guitar)
Mead
(bass)
Review:
So
3 years after their acclaimed debut album – Return To Earth – one
of Wales finest Doom/Stoner Metal Bands are back with their eagerly
awaited second album – Darkness Died Today.
You
can tell this album is going to be a blast from the very first
thunderous riff from opening track Dragging The Bones which brings
back memories of 90s Monster Magnet jamming with Clutch. New lead
vocalist – Matt Williams – fits in brilliantly well singing his
heart out right from the start. If you want crunching, heavy and
hard-rocking Doom/Stoner Metal riffs then this is the album for you
as Sigiriya don't fuck about. They are all about the melodies and
riffs which this album is action paced with.
Sigiriya
members have served time in some legendary bands such as Acrimony and
Iron Monkey. So you can't deny the pedigree or talent of this
near-legendary line-up of musicians. Darkness Died Today is a very
soulful and reflective album as it captures the moments when life
treats you badly. Though it gives you the power and courage to move
onto bigger and better things.
That
vibe is definitely the back-bone of one of the albums stand-out
tracks – Guided by Mountains – a hard-hitting track backed up
with some mean Doom/Stoner Metal riffs with Matt bringing a lot of
soul and groove to the party. Though it's when Sigiriya start laying
down some mean riffs you can't help but rocking out and singing along
to this track. Sigiriya mean business on this album and the album
only becomes more powerful as time goes by.
3rd
Track – Return To Earth – starts off with a slow-paced riff
before Matt brings the album to life once again. If Wales ever needed
a Doom/Stoner Metal anthem then this is the track they should choose
as it's a plays out like a triumphant war-cry for troops going into
battle. You can feel the heavy riffage coming straight at you from
all corners as Sigiriya unleash pure Welsh Rock and Roll Fury and
nobody can stop them on this form.
This
album is full of brilliant tracks. There isn't one bad song on the
album. You won't be bored for a second. Tracks such as Godspeeder,
Tribe Of The Old Oak and Obelisk show why Sigiriya are highly
respected within the Wales/UK Doom/Stoner Metal scene. They are
masters of the riff as Darkness Died Today is full of them. If this
album was released in the 1990s when Stoner Metal was on the rise
then this would be considered a classic album. That's how good it
really is.
Though
the guys leave the two best tracks for last – Freedom Engines and
Sleeping With The Dogs. Two tracks that show what Sigiriya is all
about. Fast-paced hard-hitting Doom/Stoner Metal riffs combined with
superb vocals to match that gives Sigiriya such a dangerous edge.
This is the finest 14 minutes on the album and it's a powerful ride
you won't easily forget.
Check
out the excellent artwork designed by Jimbob Isaac (HARK, TAINT) as
it gives you a real sense on what the album is about. Darkness Died
Today is a must have album and is potentially one of the Stoner Metal
albums to own in 2014. The production is immense through out as the
album has a loud and epic feel that will have you begging for more.
Brilliant.
End Of.
Thanks
to Darren at Candlelight Records
for sending us a promo to review. Darkness
Died Today will be available to buy from April 24th
2014 from Candlelight Records
Check
The Band From Links Below
Written
by Steve Howe
