By: Richard Maw
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 18/05/2018
Label: Rise Above Records
Age of Taurus still have the hunger and riffs to compete with
the very best of the genre and the very British delivery elevates them far
above their American counterparts
“The Colony Slain” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1.
From the Hills to the Halls
2. Taken to the Tower
3. The Trial of Blackwynn Chaise
4. In Dreams We Die
5. The Lost Garrison
6. Beyond the Westward Path
7. For Treason We Rise
8. The Walls Have Ears
9. To Seal a Mountain
10. As Ice Into Blood
11. The Colony Slain
2. Taken to the Tower
3. The Trial of Blackwynn Chaise
4. In Dreams We Die
5. The Lost Garrison
6. Beyond the Westward Path
7. For Treason We Rise
8. The Walls Have Ears
9. To Seal a Mountain
10. As Ice Into Blood
11. The Colony Slain
The Review:
Age of Taurus return with their second full
length release, some five years after “Desperate
Souls of Tortured time”. The Londoner's appetite hasn't dimmed, even if line-up
changes have seen metal stalwart Alastair Riddell depart the ranks and the
bassist Richard Bruce also leave. The band still deliver doom; no fuss, no
branching out- just a very traditional British metal/doom sound.
After
a mood setting intro, “Taken to the
Tower” brings a surprising turn of speed and the familiarly mournful sounds
of Toby W Wright's vocals. The NWOBHM influences are still firmly present here
as are the much more downbeat doom stylings- “The Trial of Blackwynn Chaise” being a solid example of the latter.
There
is a lot of reverb in the mix this time around, maybe even too much in places,
but the quality riffs and arrangements are still easy enough to hear. Amongst
the more rocking material, traditional doom can be found (“The Lost Garrison”) and once again, the lyrics and themes are
historical, mythical and magical. By the time of “For Treason We Rise”, the album's pattern is fairly firmly
established; slow doom intros often abound, faster riffage and galloping
rhythms often replace it and the atmosphere is one of melancholy.
Truthfully,
there is nothing new here and certainly nothing that you won't have heard, but
that is not to say that the delivery is convincing and the performances
absolutely committed. Yes, Wytch Hazel are doing
this type of stuff with more subtlety- but Age of Taurus are just
as effective as on their debut and take on the mantel of bands like Witchfinder General (probably their closest older brother)
with deftness and aplomb.
For
doom rock in 2018, look no further than this album. “The Walls Have Ears” and “To
Seal A Mountain” are solid proof that Age of Taurus still
have the hunger and riffs to compete with the very best of the genre and the
very British delivery elevates them far above American counterparts trading on
occult themes and something to do with biker gang films from the 60's.
The
title track closes proceedings with three and a half minutes of convincing
NWOBHM flavoured doom- much like the tracks that preceded it. There is much to
recommend here and if you like the style of either of the bands mentioned above
you cannot go wrong by getting hold of this. Doom on compatriots.
Band
info: facebook
