By: Richard Maw
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 22/09/2018
Label: Independent
it
is absolutely clear that Famyne will be both
leading the way for British doom in the years to come and also may well become
a band apart from the genre and the “scene.”
“Famyne” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1).
Wearthless
2).
Faustus
3).
Slave Ship
4).
Ghosts
5).
Tremor
6).
Dreamweaver
The Review:
The
UK is the de facto home of doom- what with Black Sabbath kicking
off the genre (and heavy metal in general) way back when. In recent times,
though, Maryland in the US, Sweden and Germany have all had thriving scenes
going on and the UK's fortunes faded with the demise of Cathedral.
Not any more, though.
The
UK can boast several first class doom bands- that's doom, not sludge. Famyne have placed themselves neatly into the upper
echelons of the current (and the “been around for donkey's years”) crop of
bands. This is traditional doom; low slow and weighty. The vocals are clean,
the guitars and bass distorted, the drums pound (and drummer Jake Cook uses a
fair amount of subtlety with his snare grace notes as well) and the songs
sprawl and soar.
Epic
opener “Wearthless” sets the tone
with an impressive rhythmic foundation and no small amount of Doors inspired psychedelia in the vocal production and
delivery. The band tackle the big subjects in “Faustus”- big in the realms of metal, that is- and provide
appropriately big riffs to go with it. Convincingly double tracked vocals are a
nice touch and the overall production job is worth noting for its weight and
clarity.
“Slave Ship” utilises
dynamics effectively, introducing a diversity of sound not too often found in
the trad doom world. Tom Vane's vocals are a defining stamp on the band's
sound- they lend it an ethereal quality. As the album progresses through “Ghosts” and “Tremor”, there are numerous influences that can be picked out here
and there; maybe some AIC, maybe even some
shoe-gaze type stuff? This is certainly not an average, meat and potatoes Sabbath rip off; even if the Sabs are
audible in the witches brew the band have concocted.
The
touches of violin, the soaring vocals and the rock solid instrumental work of
all band members add up to make this record both engaging and even surprising.
It is very accomplished stuff; streets ahead of most band's debut records and
with a unique sound.
As
the album progresses through the nine and a half minutes of “Dreamweaver”- no, not that “Dreamweaver”, so beloved of Crowbar and Wayne's World- it is absolutely clear that Famyne will be both leading the way for British doom in the
years to come and also may well become a band apart from the genre and the
“scene.”
There
is no way of knowing how far the band is going to go, but if they get the right
cards dealt to them it will be a lot further than opening band status. They are
young, they are unique and they are undoubtedly going to give all the UK doom
bands a run for their money. Sabbath are gone, Cathedral and Iron Man likewise, Pentagram are headless, Saint Vitus
have lost one original member already and Wino won't be around forever. If you
were placing bets on who was going to carry the torch from here... Well, check
out this superb debut and hear for yourself as we stream the sublime “Faustus” below
“Famyne” is available here
