Date Released: 27/05/2016
Label: Holy Roar Records
The
majestic, sweeping 'Zoltar' begins with piano and a warm, all encompassing
riff. If this song was the sea, I would happily drown in its crystal waters and
when we get the heavy stuff... boy is it heavy!
Fans of musical journeys take note; THIS is the album you need to hear
this year. Its epic, it's majestic, it's fucking brilliant.
“II: For
Mankind” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1).
Pyazz Bhonghi
2).
The Uncle
3).
Zoltar
4).
White Dwarf
The Review
South
East Wales' doomiest sons return with 'II:
For Mankind' their first proper album. I'll let you in on a little secret;
it's fucking awesome!
The
guitars that growl on the opening few bars of 'Pyaaz Bonghi' rip through the sound system. Guitarist/Vocalist Adam
Wrench has clearly been studying Yob in both vocal delivery and guitar tone (he
even bought a pedal from Mike Scheidt) but manages to keep it entirely
original. The track paces slowly and powerfully throughout its 12 minutes,
while diminutive sticksman Joe Sheehy lays waste to his kit, smashing the skins
like a man 5 times his size.
The
track takes a turn towards a more melodic and bright sound around the 7 minute
mark letting the notes swim around the oceans created by Wrench's superb
vocals. Then we get piano. In doom--?
Yes, fuck you; it works brilliantly, closing the track off in epic fashion. 'The Uncle' treads a similar path, epic
and widespread in its dynamics, heavy when it needs to be and at only 8.30, the
shortest track on the album.
The
majestic, sweeping 'Zoltar' begins
with more piano and a warm, all encompassing riff. If this song was the sea, I
would happily drown in its crystal waters. Halfway through (around 10 minutes
in) we get the heavy stuff...and boy is it heavy! Towards the end we get more
piano and...saxophone! I love this album!
Finally
we get 'White Dwarf' which resembles
the Haast's Eagled we know and love.
The melodic vocals are at their absolute peak, while the rhythm section
maintains the steady pace. Guitars range from the savagely heavy to the subdued
and simplistic and everywhere in between. Its epic, it's majestic, it's fucking
brilliant.
Fans
of musical journeys take note; THIS is the album you need to hear this year.
Full of more variety and surprises than a bag of Revels, this is surely to rank
high on several end of year lists.
Do
yourself a favour and buy it!
“II: For Mankind” is available here
