Thursday 31 March 2016

Tombs - "All Empires Fall" EP (Review)

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: EP
Date Released: 01/04/2016
Label: Relapse Records


Tombs are swiftly becoming a force to be reckoned with in today's bloated extreme metal landscape. They are a band that take no prisoners and continue to push the envelopes in terms of originality. This EP is quite simply exceptional.  Mike Hill's vocals are more acerbic than in previous efforts as the blackened riffs from Hill and Evan Void are full of contempt as they burn and scrape like razorwire being dragged across bare skin.

“All Empires Fall” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). The World Is Made of Fire
2). Obsidian
3). Last Days of Sunlight
4). Deceiver
5). V

The Review:

When something new from atmospheric blackened sludge troupe Tombs is released, there's only one guarantee; your face will melt.

Opening track and instrumental 'The World Is Made Of Fire' is a brief yet fitting introduction to this EP, shredding guitars assault the senses while new addition Fade Kainer on synths/keys provides the atmospheric backdrop. 'Obsidian' is pure hellfire. Mike Hill's vocals are more acerbic than in previous efforts as the blackened riffs from Hill and Evan Void are full of contempt as they burn and scrape like razorwire being dragged across bare skin. Remember the song 'Hearts Filthy Lesson' from David Bowie's 1995 industrial album '1. Outside'? Well, describing 'Last Days Of Sunlight' as an occult, industrial black metal version of that would be doing the originality of the song a huge injustice but it may give you an inclination of it. The minimal guitars serve to let the exceptional talents of Kainer shine. Flecks of throat singing and Hill's iconic voice lend the song its esoteric feel.

'Deceiver' was the first full song to be aired by Relapse Records, this track going some ways to prove just how versatile Tombs can be. The pounding rhythm and simplistic chugging guitars providing a stark contrast to the previous song. Those of you who check YouTube often may have seen the video for fifth song 'V'. It seems to have picked the best pieces from 'Winter Hours', 'Path Of Totality' and 'Savage Gold' and wrapped them up in a cocoon of industrial synths. Hill and Kainer trade vocals over the penetrative rhythm of bassist Ben Brand and drummer Charles Schmid while guitarist Evan Void and Hill himself shed a path to Hades.

Tombs are swiftly becoming a force to be reckoned with in today's bloated extreme metal landscape. They are a band that take no prisoners and continue to push the envelopes in terms of originality. This EP is quite simply exceptional.

“All Empires Fall” is available here



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