Friday 18 April 2014

DOWAGER - S/T Demo Review

Demo cover art

Album Type:EP
Date Released: April 4th 2014
Label: Self Released

Demo - track listing:

1.From The Jaws of Cerberus 09:15
2.Slave Ship 08:42
3.Lycanthropic Jihad (final version) 07:51

Bio:

DOWAGER started in 2010 as a one man blackened thrash doom punk outfit, releasing an extremely limited 7" through LEATHER DOOMSDAY RECORDS in 2012. In 2013, after adding Austrian Guitarist - Hannes-(ex-NAUTILUS) and Drummer- JK Fortyseven- (ex-MANIAK COP), Bassist/Vocalist- Joe and the guys slowed the sound down to a sludgy crawl, while still retaining the overall attack of the bands sound. DOWAGER's first 12" vinyl release is due out in May / June 2014.

The Band Members

HANNES-GUITARS
JOE-BASS/VOX
JK FORTYSEVEN-DRUMS/SAMPLES

Review:

Dowager is a band who you should be very afraid of!!!

Dowager's style of music is very hard to describe. Parts Doom, Sludge, Crust and hints of violent Blackened Rock and Roll. They feel like a more twisted version of Church Of Misery though with a more Rock and Roll edge.

Their demo release is simply intense from the word go. First track – From The Jaws Of Cerberus – perfectly paints the mood black with slabs of dirty violent Sludge/Doom Metal riffs that feels like it has been crafted in HELL itself. Though there is a slight grunge like vibe that reminds me of early Alice In Chains especially with the vocals. But take my word for it when I say this track is dark, disturbing, brutal, horrific and full of dark delicious twisted riffs you won't be able to get enough of.

Yeah I fucking love this EP alright as you don't hear something dark and mesmerizing as this on a début release.

Dowager keep up their intense style of dark riffage on the excellent 2nd track – Slave Ship – that sees the band once again take you on another dangerous journey into the darkness fuelled by heavy slabs of Crust based Sludge/Doom Metal riffs. Now this is what I call true Occult Rock as Dowager amp up the tension with creepy Doom-like atmospherics with sublime grunge based vocals to match.

And finally, we have possibly the most twisted track on the demo release. Lycanthropic Jihad which sees the band at their terrifying best. Dowager unleash hell on earth with this track. The bass feels like a drill going into your skull and sucking the life out of you. Blackened Rock and Roll at it's finest.

This demo release is fucking brilliant. There is no question about that. Dowager have something special about them that will see them go along way in the Doom/Sludge Metal world. I urge you to check them out now as I have a feeling we will be hearing a lot more from these dark overlords over the next 12 months or so.

Brilliant. End Of.

Dowager S/T Demo Release is available to buy on BandCamp now.

Check The Band From Links Below


Written by Steve Howe