By:
Richard Maw
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 25/01/2019
Label: Argonauta Records
This Florida outfit come on like a freight train- an unstoppable
band channelling the spirit of early High on Fire
“Civilizations” CD//DD//LP
track listing:
1. Litmus
2. Dirt Womb
3. Mountains of Stone
4. Black Moon
5. Hunter and the Hunted
6. Intro
7. Chimera
8. Akasha
9. Exodus
2. Dirt Womb
3. Mountains of Stone
4. Black Moon
5. Hunter and the Hunted
6. Intro
7. Chimera
8. Akasha
9. Exodus
The Review
This
Florida outfit come on like a freight train- an unstoppable band channelling
the spirit of early High on Fire but moving
a little slower. From the opening pounding of “Litmus”, you expect sludge and that's what you get.
That
said, there is much more to this record- acoustic guitars and clean vocals on “Black Moon” are just the start. There
is a fair amount of stoner-ish atmosphere (“Hunter and the Hunted”, “Intro”)
and some really cracking riffs. The production and mix are great; weighty and
pleasing to listen to and the tempos are not just one slow pace. There are some
real head-nodders in here too; “Chimera”
is one of them and it utilises a mid-paced but oddly groovy approach.
If
you prefer a bit of gloom, then “Akasha”
covers it well with some very doomy sounds that will appeal to even the most
ardent Sabbath purist. The closing
close-to-eight-minutes of “Exodus”
is an expansive finish to a blinding record.
Hollow Leg inhabit the same kind of space as High on Fire (first album) but also cover the territory of Sleep, The Sword (early) and
other bands who are on the doom/stoner/sludge spectrum whilst not quite fitting
into one bracket. Recommended and really good.
“Civilizations” is available HERE
