By: Ernesto
Aguilar
Album Type: Full Length
Date
Released:
29/09/2017
Label: Argonauta
Records
Cities of Mars'
unique songwriting and evolving musicianship have much to offer to the doom
scene
"Temporal
Rifts" CD//DD//LP track listing
1.
Doors of Dark Matter Pt 1: Barriers
2.
Envoy of Murder
3.
Gula, a Bitter Embrace
4.
Children Of The Red Sea
5.
Caverns Alive!
The Review:
Sweden's Cities of Mars
may not initially jump out as you as you first listen. As a doom trio mixing in
heavy psychedelic overtones and even classic metal melodies in the spirit of Black Sabbath
or Uriah
Heap, you might just lose them in the traffic of artists traveling
similar roads. However, all credit to the band and its label, ever a connoisseur
of original musicians, with this self-awareness, and for shaping a concept from
start to finish.
Dubbing
itself "a heavy band with an
integrated storyline," Cities of Mars makes its proper debut this
year with "Temporal Rifts,"
coming after its 2016 EP, "Celestial
Mistress," and two tracks in 2015. However, its collection is all
based on the same concept, a broad and ancient conspiracy that is unearthed by
Russian KGB cosmonaut Nadia, who lands on the planet Mars as part of a covert
mission in 1971. With an assist from Monolord's Esben Willems on production, Cities of Mars
offer promise at an invigorating premiere.
Cities of
Mars
has gotten comparisons to the band Sleep at points for good reason. Their
distorted, stoner-esque orchestration and other flourishes may spark visions of
that San Jose
trio. Still, Cities
of Mars presents a few areas of its own to be excited about.
First
and foremost, it is storytelling. You'll have some quick catching up to do if
you are not familiar with the tale, because Cities of Mars pitches you right
in. Vocalists Christoffer Norén and Danne
Palm together do a respectable job at conveying affairs, which, as you can
guess, get fantastical and spaced out. "Envoy
of Murder" is a good instance of this. Johan Küchler's drums
lead the way as the story comes down to lyrics that feel mirthless in emotion.
But in "Gula, a Bitter
Embrace," there is a growing determination, as the trio strike a
thicker and faster doom rhythm. The arrangement on "Gula" is solid, but feels like it could benefit by being just
a bit more compact. However, the eight-minute "Children Of The Red Sea"
following it manages a sublime trance into something that feels like truly
memorable doom. Gentler chords grow insistent, as the bass swells and vocals float
in an otherworldly way against the guitar strings caging it. The composition
here harkens somewhat to Below the Sun's spectacular summer release,
but Cities
of Mars feels bold in its own way.
The
album closes with the psychedelic "Caverns
Alive!" It follows the same footprint of some other cuts – lighter
open, churning build – and yet the band keeps it sounding fresh. Such, however,
might be the biggest question for Cities of Mars. Where does a band whose name
and music come from a single concept go after this? Space is, of course,
infinite. And as you will come to appreciate, Cities of Mars' unique
songwriting and evolving musicianship have much to offer to the doom scene.
Without giving away the story, fans will have to simply await to which planet this
innately discrepant act flies the next light year.
"Temporal Rifts" is available here:
