Album Type:
Full Length
Date Released: 16/6/2015
Label:
Candlelight
“A Dracula” CD//DD
track listing:
1.
Rursumque Alucarda
2. Behold, The Daughter
3. I Am Haunted
4. Gypsy Cursem
5. Deny The Savior
6. Mark Of Jubilee
7. Rursumque Adracula
8. Raped By The SerpenT
2. Behold, The Daughter
3. I Am Haunted
4. Gypsy Cursem
5. Deny The Savior
6. Mark Of Jubilee
7. Rursumque Adracula
8. Raped By The SerpenT
Demon Lung is:
Shanda
Fredrick | Vocals
Jeremy
Brenton | Drums
Phil
Burns | Guitar
Brent
Lynch | Guitar
Jason
Lamb | Bass
Review:
The
great Seattle guru, Jack Endino, once stated that heavy music can occasionally
be both intense and relaxing. Those may seem like completely diametric elements
when it comes to the metal end of the spectrum, but it is actually a very apt
observation, one that can describe many heavy bands of the here and now.
Sometimes this phenomenon is achieved through slow pacing and high volume
riffing. Other times it occurs through clever usage of effects and a studio
engineer who really knows what they’re doing, (the recent spike in “atmospheric
black metal” is a result of the latter.) In the case of Demon Lung’s latest
release for Candlelight Records, which was produced by the highly reputable
Billy Anderson, we are indeed receiving an offering that is heavy and massive,
but is also dark and hollow, (hollow in the sense that you can almost “feel”
the space around the instrumentation.) In short, “A Dracula” is a record that
screams of heaviness, but it also provides a sonic abyss that allows listeners
to get lost in its depth and undercurrent.
After
a dark folk-ish intro, the record immediately segues into the pummelling,
detuned, double bass madness of “Behold the Daughter.” Shanda’s vocals soar
like an evil ghost, which is sure to strike a chord with the occult lovers who
dig this eerie effect. As the album moves forth with songs like “I am Haunted”
and “Gypsy Curse,” it’s evident the band knows a thing or two about mixing the
High on Fire “pillars falling” sound with a sort of horror rock vibe. That
said, it should also be mentioned that this record is a thematic one. The band
previously stated that the album is about “the daughter of Satan, who happens
to fall in love with the purest of souls in the convent she resides. She coaxes
this soul over to the dark, with only intentions of love but in doing so she
dooms her to death by the hands of the nuns. The anger consumes her and she
uses her dark powers to resurrect her love and together they kill the convent
and then the world.” Everyone is down with a little nun-slaughter, right? The
whole albums-with-stories thing may work more for some listeners than others,
but in the case of “A Dracula” the music is strong enough to win over the folks
who may not be down with some storyboard guidance. The tunes are good, well played,
and there’s a great mix of new school doom and traditional doom elements to
entice fans from all across the board. My personal favorite? The record’s
midpoint, “Deny the Savior.” It’s reminiscent of the strongest Candlemass
offerings, and Shanda’s breathy vocal delivery really brings forth the darkness
and despair.
The
only potential snag I may see for Demon Lung is that the sludge lovers may find
themselves wishing for a more in-your-face production style. However, it’s
doubtful that’d end up being too much of an issue. Today’s lovers of heavy seem
to enjoy a kaleidoscopic array of sound. If you dig your music loud with a fine
balance of sludgy and airy, “A Dracula” is an album that should certainly
strike your dark fancy.
Words by:
Erik Sugg
‘A
Dracula’is available here
For more
information:
