ALBUM REVIEW: Somnuri - "Somnuri"

By Ralka F. Skjerseth

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 10/11 2017

Label: Magnetic Eye Records

This self-titled debut is an impressive debut, possessing a musical style that is extensive, manifesting decibels of subliminally-composed heavy fuzz and thrashing resonances inspired by a myriad of names such as Mastodon, High on Fire, and Baroness

“Somnuri” DD//LP track Listing:

01. Kaizen

02. Inhabitant

03. Same Skies

04. Slow Burn

05. Opaque

06. Welcome The Stranger

07. Pulling Teeth

08. Through The Dead

The Review:

Up-and-coming stoner/sludge/doom metal/progressive trio from Brooklyn, Somnuri, consisting of members of Blackout, Hull, and Family, they are formidably manifesting decibels of subliminally-composed heavy fuzz and thrashing resonances inspired by a myriad of names such as Mastodon, High on Fire, and Baroness. There definitely is diverse elements that can be found in their style— be it a convergence of black metal, sludge, math rock, progressive post-metal, you name it. As a result, they successfully manage to present a profound variety of paces, rhythms, and vocal ranges. They are the kind of band that would not hesitate to solicit influences from an extensive range of references in order to evolve as their own kind of authenticity. I personally don’t think that they suit only one single mundane classification of genre; they branch out in the most proficient way ever possible. They have done an awesome job of presenting how their elements can be ethereal but also belligerent at the same time-- their style is like a conundrum. It’s interesting to find trails of black metal-inspired growls in a sludge content that can be found in some tracks, as well.

The first track, “Kaizen”, is an atmospheric tune that appears to be strong on stoner elements and features a slow-paced outro which contrasts to the fast and upbeat beginning of the song. Hereafter, there comes “Inhabitant” with a blistering nuance and black metal-inspired funereal distortion. The next track “Same Skies” is in a more rapid pace than the previous two tracks, intensified by its chaotic drumbeats, and it mainly contains sonorous growls. “Slow Burn” is a droning, fuzzed-out track with prepossessing riffs and a well-crafted combination between growls and clean vocals. “Opaque” happens to be a short track that comes off as tranquil and clandestine. “Welcome the Stranger” has some circle pit-inducing malignant vibes that would trigger you to stage-dive and mosh. Next off we have “Pulling Teeth” and its convoluting riffs of the damned. The last track “Through the Dead” is a rhythmic, ethereal take on stoner that closes the album as the longest track.

This self-titled debut is an impressive debut, possessing a musical style that is extensive and not chained to one certain sphere only. It has a lot of scenes and roots implemented in its content, and it’s such a good start for them.

“Somnuri” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Bison - “You Are Not The Ocean, You Are the Patient”

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 07/07/2017

Label: Pelagic Records

“You Are Not The Ocean, You Are the Patient” is an amalgamation of everything that Bison does well. If you love anything in the realm of sludge or stoner metal, this is a must for you.

“You Are Not The Ocean, You Are the Patient” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Until The Earth Is Empty
2. Anti War
3. Drunkard
4. Kenopsia
5. Tantrum
6. Raiigin
7. Water Becomes Fire

The Review:

Bison return with their first offering since the “1000 Needles” EP. It is an album of seven well-crafted, riff-heavy tracks that borrows a little bit from each era of the band.

The album starts with “Until the Earth is Empty“and “Anti-War”; both very punk tracks reminiscent of the “Quiet Earth” days of the band. Immediately, the listener is hit with the fastest paced Bison music that has not been heard in years. Matt Wood’s vocals on “Anti-War” are a welcomed contrast to this song. The band reminds the listener that their youthful spirit from their earlier records is still there.

The album then moves to “Drunkard”, “Kenospsia”, and “Tantrum” which are in line with the “Dark Ages” and “Lovelessness” era of the band. The slower/more brooding tones mix well with signature guitar grooves, thick bass tones, and pummelling drum fills that transition the record smoothly. Where the album really kicks off is in the closing final tracks; “Raiigin” and “Water Becomes Fire”. These songs contain some of the nastiest riffs every written by the band. “Raiigin, in particular, has a riff at the end that is heaviest thing they’ve ever written.

“You Are Not The Ocean, You Are the Patient” is an amalgamation of everything that Bison does well. If you love anything in the realm of sludge or stoner metal, this is a must for you.

“You Are Not The Ocean, You Are the Patient” is available to preorder/buy here



Band info: facebook

FFO: Mastodon, High On Fire, Baroness, Black Tusk



ALBUM REVIEW: Lizzard Wizzard - "Total War Power Bastard"

By: Ben Fitts

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 01/01/2017

Label: Independent

This album is defined by tones as sweet as a glass of warm tar, sparse arrangements, sluggish tempos and venomous attitude. To listen to “Total War Power Bastard” is to get lost in a haze of looping riffs, humming amplifiers, grimy guitar fuzz and putrid vocals.

“Total War Power Bastard” DD track listing:

1.THREAT LEVEL DEMON (05:04)
2.DADFATHER (07:02)
3.NERD SMASHER (03:34)
4.SHITHEAD NIHILISM (08:41)
5.PIZZA (06:25)
6.SNAKE ARROW (07:01)
7.MEDUSA BUT SHE GETS YOU STONED

NSTEAD OF TURNING YOU TO STONE INSTEAD

OF SNAKES SHE HAS VAPORIZERS ON HIS HEAD...DRUGS (04:49)
8.CRYSTAL BALLS (05:58)
9.MEGAFLORA (08:26)

The Review:

“Total War Power Bastard”, the second LP from the Australian quartet Lizzard Wizzard, clocks in at just under an hour of filthy, fuzz drenched, stoner-sludge bliss. This album is defined by tones as sweet as a glass of warm tar, sparse arrangements, sluggish tempos and venomous attitude. To listen to “Total War Power Bastard” is to get lost in a haze of looping riffs, humming amplifiers, grimy guitar fuzz and putrid vocals.

Seldomly concerning themselves with things like harmony, nimble fretwork or crafting hooks, Lizzard Wizzard focus on what clearly matters to them: delivering menacing, megalithic riffs that are filtered through mountains of vile fuzz and set to creeping, lackadaisical grooves. However, they do change it up sometimes, as demonstrated by the ringing whitewash of feedback and echoes of the album’s two middle tracks, “Pizza” and “Snake Arrow”. And, speaking of “Pizza”, Lizzard Wizzard also divert from the typical lyrical subject matter of many of their doomy brethren, as song titles such as “Nerd Smasher” and, of course, “Pizza”, can attest to.

The strongest bid for standout track is made by the album’s second number, “Dad Father”. Built around the strongest riff to be found on “Total War Power Bastard”, “Dad Father” is seven minutes of gut wrenching bass tones, hobbling rhythms, bluesy riffing and doom galore. Also, there is a moment where the vocalist screams the words “You’re wearing very short shorts”. However, the clear winner of best song title on “Total War Power Bastard” is the seventh track, “Medusa But She Gets You Stoned Instead Of Turning You To Stone Instead Of Snakes She Has Vaporizers On His Head...Drugs”. The song starts with Lizzard Wizzard’s typical fare of leisurely speeds and few notes, until building into the album’s most driving, urgent track.

There are some stylistic changes between “Total War Power Bastard” and Lizzard Wizzard’s self-titled debut album from 2013, their previous full-length. “Total War Power Bastard” is a much meaner album with a vicious disposition that was just not present in Lizzard Wizzard’s debut. Their debut was a warmer record, where the guitars sounded creamy instead of filthy. The riffs were all around bluesier, and the songs much more melodic. “Total War Power Bastard” dials up the harshness of that first record. It strips away many of its frills and adds aggression and all the nastiness one could ever desire, creating a much sludgier album than Lizzard Wizzard’s debut. It was a good, natural direction for the band. There is something special about an album that drips with acidic venom the way “Total War Power Bastard” does.

“Total War Power Bastard” is available here     

Band info: bandcamp || facebook