Track Listing
1. Brain returns to initial state 2. Bells dark above our heads 3. Branch breaker 4. Radio crackles spill down my face 5. Hot salvation 6. Breath drops out in ice and glass 7. Rape Athena 8. Roar of the forest rose to thunder 9. Clenched tight in the fist of god 10. ...Only dogs hear (Here) 11. Jaws of the lion 12. Smoke out loud 13. Deserts in your eyes 14. Meditation in B parts V and VI 15. Cinders of the simian psyche 16. Three ring ocean sideshow Year: 2001 Label: Tortuga |
Old Man Gloom - 'Seminar II: The holy rites of primitivism regressionism' - By W. Spurrier
Some of the past years most enjoyable and most brutally f*cked up albums, have come not from the usual Black/Death metal bands, most of whom have an extremely technical sound. Oh no, you'd be wrong in thinking that. Some of the best heaviest releases have come from bands who know what to leave out in their sound. Bands who are in control of their medium, and who's music creates a massive void, i.e Electric wizard. Now enter Old man gloom, another band who've attempted to kick your ass into the void so hard, that it comes out the other side of the year 3000. The main feature of this album is that it is merged together by some eerie, ominous psychedelic sounds, distorted radios, disjointed human voices etc. These sounds seep in and out after each song, which adds a sludge like ambience to the whole affair. Take 'Radio crackles spill down my face' merging into 'Hot salvation' The drone of the former leads into the cascading guitar riffs of the latter, leaving you feeling turned upside down. The attitude of Old man gloom and their sense of finality has seen them being compared to Neurosis. Whilst I'd agree slightly, I'd also say Neurosis sound more in control of their chosen medium. Here OMG give us some sonic avalanches which sound very out of control. These avalanches are surrounded by the aforementioned eerieness. This aspect of their sound as well as being a strongpoint, could also be a pitfall for the band, as these sounds do test your listening endurance. For the more fickle listener this would mean that the record wouldn't get a second listen. Another aspect I felt that they could've taken a bit more control of was the actual 'songs' in between the psychedelia. Whilst songs like ' Three ring ocean sideshow' were impressive, one felt that by reigning in the songs a bit and taking control of the wildness, they would've pushed us over the edge. One way or the other, I doubt OMG care, and those of us who liked to be challenged will take perverse pleasure at their inability to control nature. Metal Obsessive Grade: 69% |