By: Peter Morsellino
Album
Type: Full Length
Date
Released: 06/02/2020
Label:
Independent
“Chapters” DD track listing:
1). Stonier
2). Nothing Gets Through
3). Beast
4). Hearts of Metropolis
5). Not Dying
The
Review:
Mixing earth shaking doom with sweetly
flowing melodies can be a tricky task to master. Many times, you can end up
with a noisy mess that drowns out any intricacies that were included. Conversely, there's always the possibility of
watering down the product too much, stripping it of any of the power and
aggression that it once contained. On “Chapters”, Radian walks this line
skillfully, delivering a well-rounded album that stays fresh over repeated
listens.
The heaviness of “Chapters”
cannot be understated. Low tuned riffing rattles the earth to its very core,
with punishing density and a molten anger that burns clean through the
soul. Melodic lines sing like weeping
angels, creating a stark contrast to the destruction Radian unleashes.
The top-notch production of the album plays no small part in this. With
such crushing tones, it can be incredibly easy for a mix to become muddy and
lose all distinction. This is not the
case here, as every brutal note and melancholic wail can be heard with crystal
clarity. Bass enthusiasts will rejoice at the amazing bass tone which cuts
through the mix like a knife through butter. With the amount of noise this band
makes, the transparency is quite frankly awe inspiring.
Album opener “Stonier”
showcases Radain's ability to blend darkness
with light expertly. Stoner rock riffs descend into full on doom chaos. Interspersed with an endearing sadness with
beautiful melodies floating through the tracks nine plus minutes, “Stonier”
breaks through the gate with a statement of just what this band is capable of.
“The Beast” is
a surprise helping in the center of a pleasantly surprising record. Channeling
the likes of Tool and Marilyn Manson in a disturbing
introduction before sliding intonation melodic sludge which is hard to beat by
the best in the genre. Vocals standout on this track, offering up a wide
arrangement of styles and techniques.
Radian come on strong
with “Chapters” and they do not let up until it's over. With
crunchy but melodic guitars, varied vocals, a driving rhythm section and a bass
tone that can't be duplicated, this one is certainly a fresh take on the sludge
sound as a whole. Sure to be enjoyed
over repeated listens, I simply can't recommend this one enough.
“Chapters”
is available HERE
