The debut full-length from Greek band Automaton is weighty, sludgy, coffin-lid-slamming Doom perfection.
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Advent Varic : Tumulus Part I: It Begins (EP)
You might want to give new US band Advent Varic a try - their Black Metal/Stoner Doom hybrid is surprisingly brilliant. |
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| 'Tumulus Part 1: It Begins' was to be my first brush with American Doom act Advent Varic. I’m somewhat loathe to strictly call this a "Doom" release, however - there’s more to it than that. Now, I’m reviewing a download that has been sent so I can’t even begin to comment on any aspects of the physical release, which is composed of one long track with the same name as the EP title. The music itself is a very curious mix that I’ve seldom come across before. Vocally, it’s pure Black Metal with an occasional lean toward Dani Filth. Don’t let that put you off, though - this isn’t a Black Metal release either. Instead, what Advent Varic have done is fuse a type of Stoner Doom with Black Metal. It sounds like a very odd combination, and I am not sure if it's something I’d voluntarily go for with that kind of description, but it’s surprisingly good. If you fuse the hazy, zoned out elements of Stoner Doom with some seriously powerful Black Metal high vocals then you’re definitely not going to be bored! Besides, the track isn’t long enough to invoke boredom. If they went full Nargaroth on it then perhaps I’d see it differently but that’s not the case; it’s quite gripping, actually, particularly with the occasional solo thrown in for good measure. I’m desperately trying to think of a better way to explain to you as to what you can expect on this release because it’s good and should be heard. Maybe if you played one of Khanate's earlier releases and sped it up then you’d be somewhere close to what Advent Varic have produced here. It’s not monotonous or repetitive, either - the music is rather varied, veering between slower guitar segments and fast, weed-induced insanity. I’d be extremely curious to see what Advent Varic managed to produce on a full-length release because what they’ve done on one track is actually quite unique. The musicianship is good. The production suits the style(s). I think the band’s preparation for this release has been very good because nothing sounds forced. Indeed, it sounds beautifully chaotic and yet methodically so. I can’t think of anything I didn’t like other than that I obviously craved more. I really need to purchase a hat so I can tip it to the Americans here because this release is a long way from what I thought I’d hear upon seeing a ‘Death/Doom’ tag floating around on the Internet, and it’s been a very enjoyable ride. Definitely one to try out and a band to keep an eye on. Click HERE to discuss this review on the doom-metal forum. |
| Tracklist : 1. Tumulus Part I: It Begins Duration : Approx. 21 minutes Visit the Advent Varic bandpage. |
