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
