Album Type:
Album
Date Released:
July 7th
2014
Label:
Self Released
Mourn The
Black Lotus - track listing:
01 Evidence Of A
Severe Stoning
02 Conquistador
03 Whispered Wings
04 Running For The
Caves
05 Grudgulence
06 Black Lotus
07 Clairvoyant
08 Fork In The Road
(Justin K. Broadrick Remix)
Bio
PALE
HORSEMAN is a four piece sludge metal band hailing from the South
suburbs of Chicago, US. The band blends depressing sludge heaviness,
pummeling riffs, and dual vocals with an industrial vibe to draw the
listener in with a misanthropic world view and lyrical themes
influenced by apocalyptic and paranormal subject matters.
The
quartet, which is comprised of vocalists/ guitarists Eric and Flesh,
bassist Rich, and drummer Chris, was inspired by the works of
legendary names such as GODFLESH, NEUROSIS, CARCASS, AUTOPSY, SLEEP,
HOODED MENACE, ENTOMBED, OBITUARY, SEPULTURA, THE MELVINS. Since its
formation in early 2012, the band has been performing continuously
and self-released their debut album “Pale Horseman” on April
18th, 2013.
Band Members
Eric Ondo, Rich
Cygan, Chris Pocius, Flesh
Review:
Pale
Horseman first inflicted sonic warfare on my entire being back in
April 2013 when I reviewed their epic 62-minute debut album. It’s
blend of noise, sludge, doom and post-metal carnage marked them out
as a band to look out for within the burgeoning Sludge/Post-Metal
scene. I was not the first one to take notice either as Sludge/Noise
Metal overlord – Justin K. Broadrick has taken notice too but more
about that later.
Roll
on July 2014 and Pale Horseman are about to release their even more
dangerous and brutal 2nd album – Mourn the Black Lotus. It is
another 62-minute epic for Pale Horseman to pound your soul into
submission with. Pale Horseman is more comfortable with their heavy
destructive surroundings. As they expertly ooze confidence on opening
track – Evidence of a Severe Stoning – where they unleash their
blend of ambient based Doom/Sludge/Post-Metal warfare upon to the
world. A dark and violent offering paints the bleak scene for the
next hour or so. Lead vocalist is your main guide into the dark
atmospheric world where pain and misery thrive with each passing
moment. Heavy atmospheric sludge riffs combine with doom and gloom
vocals reminiscent of Neurosis when they first created the entire
Post-Metal genre.
Second
track – Conquistador – carries on this dark dangerous tale into
heavier progressive metal territory with vibes of Mastodon slowly
creaking in. Pale Horseman grows ever more confident with each
passing moment as they lay down epic riffs that ventures between
moment of light and dark. It is another sinister tale that will open
your eyes to the horrors of the whole story of the album. Pale
Horseman has excelled themselves with the dark lyrical content as it
easily grabs your attention making it very hard to look away.
With
Mastodon venturing further into commercial hard rock territory we
need bands like Pale Horseman to show the world what Progressive
Sludge Metal is really all about. Pale Horseman don’t change course
with their music as they play through a set of stunning tracks such
as Whispered Wings, Grudgulence, Black Lotus which will leave you a
shivering emotional wreck. However, wait until you hear the
incredible 17-minute epic – Clairvoyant – which actually takes
you on a mysterious journey full of thrills and spills you will not
be able to get enough of. It is a sprawling and violent progressive
sludge/post-metal odyssey where the band unleashes dark riffs to show
the music world a truly important band has arrived.
If
you need more convincing remember at the start of the review when I
told you that Justin K. Broadrick was a fan of these guys. Well he
remixed a track from their debut album – Fork in the Road – which
Justin gives a more industrial based feel compared to the original
version. OK it is not a new track but not many bands get the chance
to have their work remixed by a legend such as Justin K. Broadrick.
It's a much more disturbing and nightmarish version compared to the
original but it fits in perfectly with the bleak tone of the new
album.
Mourn
The Black Lotus is once again recorded, mixed and mastered by Dennis
Pleckham from Bongripper and he does a fantastic job here. Pushing
the band to new limits and heights, this will only further enhance
Pale Horseman’s reputation within the Sludge/Post-Metal world.
Thanks
to LSW Music Promotions sending me a copy to review. Mourn The Black
Lotus will be available to buy on DD/CD from BandCamp on July 7th
2014.
Check
the Band from Links Below
Written
by Steve Howe
