By: Richard Maw
Album Type: EP
Date Released: 07/12/2015
Label: Black Voodoo Records
“Cult of Bathory” DD//LP track listing:
A1). Cult of Bathory
A2). Iron Mountain
B1). The Adversary
B2). Reign of Terror
The Review:
Stoner doom from LA, but nothing like other Californians such as Kyuss or Fu Manchu, though. Think more doom and less stoner. The EP offers up 4 tracks and is not too far off half an hour in length, so your money's worth is guaranteed. The recording has a lovely live and ringing drum sound, with well mixed bass and guitars. Vocals are of the low and throaty-but not too extreme- variety. “Iron Mountain
“The Adversary” sounds very much in the vein of traditional doom with its heavy and downcast riffs and rhythms approach. Dynamics are used throughout; the band does not just make a wall of noise, so there peaks and troughs aplenty.
“Reign Of Terror” closes this impressive EP in very metal style, with a half stepping riff and an initially up tempo (for doom) approach. It is nice to hear the band incorporating these types of trad influences into their sound. I suppose if you combined Trouble with Kyuss and Saint Vitus, it would sound a little like this. There is some nice lead work on this track and it finishes off the release strongly, having given the listener a good flavour of what the band is all about over its varied playing time. A band to listen to and also one to watch, too.
