Tag Archives: album review

REVIEW: BRUME – ROOSTER

July 2, 2017 darkartconspiracy Leave a comment

REVIEW: BRUME – ROOSTER by Carina Lawrence / Dark Art Conspiracy

California doom trio Brume have unleashed their anticipated debut album ‘Rooster’ which was produced by Billy Anderson. They have been honing their craft since the release of their 2015 EP ‘Donkey’ and this debut shows how they have sonically evolved and progressed.

The majority of the songs featured on this debut are quite hefty in sound and size, with most of the tracks coming in at nearly ten minutes. The opener ‘Grit and Pearls’ is one of the longest featured, at just over ten minutes and has a dark foreboding presence throughout and Susie’s haunting and beautiful vocals fit the atmosphere and backing perfectly. This is a great introduction and scene setter for the band and album which lulls you into a transcendent state of escapism.

Next song ‘Harold’ has a different feel to it, with a slightly more positive sound to it but with an ever present eeriness before the crushing instruments take hold.

‘Welter’ is very short compared to the other tracks. It is a sombre stripped back acoustic number with vulnerable vocals and soft guitars and helps add more diversity.

Closing song ‘Tradewind’ is the longest track at nearly twelve minutes long. It starts out mellow with beautiful delicate vocals before the massive chugging guitars come in, accompanied by soaring powerful vocals which you come to expect. It also further into the track features some great resonant and varied guitar work. The mood towards the end is perfect for a reflective closing that takes you through the motions.

This is a very sonic and atmospheric album which is well crafted, with its creeping slow doom crushing you from start to finish. Doom metal isn’t for everyone but this is more accessible than most offerings within this genre, making this a must hear.

Rooster is available on CD, cassette and digitally since April 20th from Brume drummer Jordan Perkins-Lewis’s fledgling label, Doom Stew Records. The 2xLP will be available in a variety of limited edition variants via DHU in July.

SCORE: 4/5

http://www.brumeband.com

https://www.facebook.com/brumeband/

featured, news, Reviews

REVIEW: Karkaos – Children Of The Void

May 18, 2017 darkartconspiracy 3 Comments

REVIEW: Karkaos – Children Of The Void by Carina Lawrence / Dark Art Conspiracy

Melodic extreme metal act Karkaos from Canada formed in 2003 and quickly built a formidable presence in their home country following their successful 2011 EP ‘In Burning Skies’ and then in 2014 they unleashed their full-length debut ‘Empire’ to help solidify this further. Now they return with their new, to be self-released album ‘Children Of The Void’ which features a new and unstoppable line-up with vocalist Viky Boyer and drummer Justine Ethier at the helm. To add more power to this anticipated release they enlist some guest musicians in the form of Lindsay Schoolcraft from Cradle of Filth and Morgan Lander from Kittie.

Opening intro track ‘Babel’ is very atmospheric and dramatic, building suspense with a determination and glimmer of hope that increases as it draws to an end, making it the perfect way to gear you up for what is to unfold…

‘Skymaster’ explodes to life with a massive symphonic sound, blitzing guitars and fast drums, with Viky Boyer’s compelling and impressive vocals fitting the relentless instrumentation and the contrasting fierce vocals from guitarist, Vincent Harnois wonderfully. This is overwhelming but in a brilliant, huge and all-consuming way.

First single ‘Kolossòs’ is crushing from the off, with a haunting intensity aided especially by the vocal delivery and keys. This is indeed colossal in every way, and it helps that it features immense guest vocals from Morgan Lander of Canadian metallers Kittie. This is an unstoppable and divine offering that encapsulates the album and the band’s sound.

Title track ‘Children Of The Void’ is immediately ambient and features many tempo changes, but never loses its fluency. The charging verses are intense and the whole song shifts between beautiful twists and turns, and enthrals with slick and impressive guitar as seen throughout the album, the nature and the vibe of the song feels very unified.

‘Tyrants’ blasts into action with alarming symphonic sounds and growled vocals. Again the band play to their strengths hitting you from every direction and overloading you, with clean, brutal, sinister hushed tones and gang vocals adding, even more depth which the album is simply brimming with.

The final offering ‘Bound By Stars’ is beautiful and eerie with passionate heartfelt lyrics from Viky. It is the longest song in length, giving it an epic feel through strength and duration, as well as the ever melodic resonant tones and soaring solo guitar work from Samael Pelletier that he exhibits throughout.

This is a fantastic attack on the senses, which is captivating, exhilarating, suspenseful, yet brutal. It is excellently structured and features impressive musicianship from the whole band. There is such depth and intelligence, through intricate fine details, that it most certainly need to be stuck on repeat to help process and appreciate every moment. This is massively majestic and leaves a lasting impression and asserts that Karkaos are a band to watch out for.

SCORE: 5/5

‘Children Of The Void’ is self-released on 26th May 2017.

Album Pre-Order available on Bandcamp at https://karkaosofficial.bandcamp.com/album/children-of-the-void-pre-order

Track Listing:
1. Babel
2. Skymaster
3. Kolossòs
4. Let the Curtain fall
5. Pale
6. Children of The Void
7. Rêverie
8. Tyrants
9. Where Mushrooms Grow
10. Lightbearer
11. The Beast
12. Bound By Stars