By: Richard Maw
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 01/01/2017
Label: Twin Earth Records
The
legendary Hawkwind would be happy with the sounds exhibited on “Nightbong”, while the darkness on “All Hollows Eve” is right in sync with Uncle
Acid et al. This is a good record which
combines some of the best of space/stoner/doom in one package. A band to watch
in 2017.
“Sci
Fi/Fantasy” CD/DD track listing:
1).
Leatherwing Bat
2).
Infinite Walrus
3).
Cosmic Filth
4).
Nightbong
5).
All Hollows Eve
6).
Transcendental Migraine
7).
Sourwolf
The Review:
The
title says it all here; this is a very adept combination of stoner/spacey rock
and doom/trad metal- thus melding the elements of science fiction and sword and
sorcery themes to great effect. Richmond.
Virginia has
given us some big names in metal in the past (Lamb of God) and some real cult
favourites (Alabama
Thunderpussy). Perhaps Book of Wyrms will be joining one of those
camps?
“Leatherwing
Bat”
is a rollicking and loping groove which languidly rolls out of the speakers.
Songs are lengthy and sprawling in the main and the production is pleasingly
fuzzy and live sounding (you can hear the snare rattle when only the bass
plays- no cutting of tape here).
A
track by track is not really necessary here; if you like the vibe, you'll like
the album. You get lead guitar, slow and rolling grooves, spacey vibes and some
pretty serious doom action along with clean vocals (female- they suit the album
very well) and distorted bass. There are some time signatures outside of the
4:4 range (“Cosmic Filth”) and the whole record has a pleasingly lo-fi
quality, while never sounding any less than mighty.
The
legendary Hawkwind
would be happy with the sounds exhibited on “Nightbong”, while the
darkness on “All Hollows Eve” is right in sync with Uncle Acid et al. As noted in
the opening paragraph, the band manage to meld two of the major thematics of
the stoner/doom spectrum to great effect, while even replicating some of the
raunch and swing of Monster Magnet in places.
The
closing eleven minutes plus of “Sourwolf” is a beastly (pun
intended) way to finish the album. For me, though, if you were to want a stand
out... give “Transcendental Migraine” a try. This is a good record which
combines some of the best of space/stoner/doom in one package. A band to watch
in 2017.
“Sci Fi/Fantasy” is available here
