Album
Type:
EP
Date
Released:
01st
January 2015
Label:
Self
Released
Primitive
Stone – Track Listing
1.Weirdo 03:24
2.Temples 03:32
3.Atomic 03:34
4.Miserere 03:50
Review:
Pamplona,
Spain trio Kabbalah have a diverse four-song E.P. up on bandcamp.
Each of the four songs are under four minutes long but manage to
touch on progressive ground. Overall, the music is steeped in occult
moods with leanings toward early 70’s progressive psych or mid-80’s
metal, giving it a good retro rock feel.
More
than that though, this is the most addictive release I’ve
encountered in this early portion of the year. It’s no exaggeration
to say I’ve lost sleep unable to get opening track “Weirdo” out
of my head. The song comes on strong with a pausey heavy and
syncopated intro before settling into a dark and appealing rhythm.
The vocals kick in and there’s no looking back. The chorus is
incredibly catchy somehow. I think it’s because the song is largely
rhythm based before the tension is broken by a hooky melodic passage
right when it’s needed. It’s an impressive song and will probably
go down as my most played single song from 2015.(all four songs
currently occupy my top four most played spots so far).
Second
track “Temples” has another great driving rhythm and features the
vocals of full-time guitarist German, one-time guitarist/vocalist of
the band Atiguaybarbuda. After another syncopated rhythm intro the
verse kicks in abruptly and shifts to a melodic bridge that invoked
floating feelings. The song moves into a fuzzy stomp section while
retaining that airy feel.
Closing
number “Miserere” is possibly the darkest song of them all, but
it also features a haunting harmonized chorus. The dark moods are
aided and abetted here by subtle use of organ during the chorus and a
spider-like chord structure during the verse. The most distinguishing
feature of the band is their ever-present rumble, which is brought to
its thunderous crescendo on this song.
The
E.P. isn’t all dark all the time, but there is a candle-lit mood
over all of it as the band seemingly invokes things it has little
power of controlling. That feeling of danger that rock and metal is
supposed to embody all the time? Kabbalah has it. The emphasis here
is on well-constructed, melodic and dynamic songs with driving
rhythms. Each of the four tracks takes its own path, the diversity of
material is impressive, but always that dark and exciting spirit
hangs over the balance.
The
band was started in 2013 by Carmen & Marga, veteran components of
Las Culebras. After recording a four-song EP later that same year,
the band apparently spent the next year selling souls and making
blood pacts to produce the strongest material possible. The result is
this, the ‘Primitive Stone’ E.P., one of the best releases of the
early portion of 2015.
Words
by LK Ultra
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