III - Tracklisting

1.The Sorcerer 04:58

2.Farewell To Gleann An Ghad 02:50

3.Betrayers! 05:43

Review

III is the debut EP from Manchester Morgue who fuse Doom, Psych, Folk, Sludge and Stoner Rock into their wider cinematic universe of riff-driven melodies. Their debut EP is a concept record of sorts which is explained by the band below:

“III tells three stories, each dedicated to one of the protagonists of our narrative concept: a necromancer brought back to life, an Irish emigrant fleeing his past, and a fallen nobleman consumed by betrayal.”

III does have a multimedia narrative for the most part but this allows Manchester Morgue to be quite creative with their music with the hidden storylines appearing within the individual tracks. The band have also stated their influence is driven by their passion for 19th-century gothic, adventure and horror literature, B-movies, and pulp imagery.

The EP also has a slight video-game influence as well which allows different sounds and textures to appear with Manchester Morgue playing songs that could easily be inspired by the Red Dead Redemption universe but still creating their own haunting identity. The record is a vibrant mix that’s played on each track with some superb Post-Doom and Gothic sound being played on the excellent opening track The Sorcerer. 

Second track Farewell To Gleann An Ghad is a Folk Rock driven number which is more melancholic and dramatic to the other tracks on the album. It’s perhaps my least favourite song on the EP but it shows a different side to Manchester Morgue compared to the hard-rocking sounds of the other tracks. The song is dominated by a historical Irish background which is quite surprising since the band are actually Italian but they pull this off with superb realism.

Third track Betrayers! is a great style of Doom, Stoner and Psych Rock driven track with Manchester Morgue applying a trippy Eastern vibe into the mix. This feels like a completely different band compared to the other tracks with Manchester Morgue delivering the standout track on the EP. The song feels inspired by the likes of Black Sabbath, Uncle Acid, Led Zepp and Green Lung where the song moves into heavier distorted sludgier grooves. 

III is a solid and superbly entertaining record. I’m still not fully sold on the second track but that will change over time. However,  Manchester Morgue has real potential here and you can feel they have the talent to deliver something really special in the near future. Until then, embrace the dark and twisted fantastical vision that Manchester Morgue has delivered with “III”.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

BandCamp | Instagram

I - Tracklisting

1.Reign of the Wicked 04:28

2.What's with the Rush? 04:58

3.Dead Eyes 03:48

4.Mass Delusion 05:07

5.Rot Alone 05:03

6.The Messages 11:58

Members

Dafiq Achmad - Bass, Vocals

Paskahline Putra - Drums

Nabiel Habibie - Vocals, Guitar

Review

Indonesian Doom/Stoner Metallers Gutward debut album is a great mix of Doom, Stoner Metal, Psych and Space Rock that’s filled with fractured Amplified textures that brings a groovy sound influenced by the likes of Electric Wizard, Black Sabbath, Slomatics and Monolord. The record has a stripped back sound within the recording process and production values that allows Gutward to play a distorted Cosmic sound. Gutward has that dominant Power Trio energy which allows each member to play their part in demonstrating a down tuned melodic energy that’s packed with violent delivery coming from the speakers.

The album runs for around thirty six minutes across six tracks with Gutward showcasing a delicious LOW & SLOW theme throughout the whole record with great vocals coming from Nabiel Habibie and Dafiq Achmad providing excellent support. Though, it’s the music that’s the real “STAR” or “MAIN ATTRACTION” here with Gutward adding a sludgy sideline of Psychedelic Fuzz Rock sound that has a hidden Atmospheric depth that can be quite destructive the best of times on tracks such as Reign Of The Wicked, What’s With The Rush, Dead Eyes and The Messages.

There is some great riff-centric build up here with Gutward edging more closely to the likes of Black Sabbath and Monster Magnet on the heaviest parts of the record. The level of SONIC interplay contained on this record has a classic Nineties Grunge and Stoner Metal energy which is brought bang up-to-date with thrilling modern day psychedelic soundscapes but with Gutward keeping with that classic down-tuned delivery that can be quite long drawn out at times. 

Though, most of the grooviest and impressive instrumental beats come from when Gutward rely firmly on Seventies Hard Rock musical worship which shows prominently on the later stages of the record. There’s a hidden backline of Proto-Metal and Classic Doom appearing which is perhaps used as an afterthought at times but this gives the album an unpredictable energy which Gutward use to their full advantage. 

Gutward have delivered a debut album that shows how they’re a band with real potential to last the course and gain a cult following within the scene. If you like your Doom/Stoner Metal music with the classic LOW & SLOW approach the “I” is a record you need to play on the BIGGEST, LOUDEST and most AGGRESSIVE speakers you can lay your hands on and just let yourselves FLY!!!

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

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The Arsonist - Tracklisting

1. Dead End (4:48)

2. Heart of Mine (5:13)

3. You Never Answered (4:53)

4. The Arsonist (4:52)

5. Never Rest (4:59)

6. Saved (4:24)

7. Patient Night (3:22)

8. The Wind (6:01)

9. It's All Dark Now Where Your Eyes Used to Be (6:30)

Members

Justin Storms - Lead vocals, rhythm guitar

Ben Melton - Lead guitar, backup vocals, Rhodes organ, piano

Steve Stanczyk - Bass

Mark Oates - Drums

Review

Wailin Storms return with their fifth album The Arsonist that once again features their potent mix of Doom, Gothic, Southern Rock, Alt Rock and Americana that’s doused in a heavy dose of Blues Rock that’s held together by a Swamp Rock narrative. There’s always been an air of mystery behind Wailin Storms records which taps into the darkest corners of the Doom Rock and Southern Rock scenes. Lead vocalist / rhythm guitarist Justin Storms is the main creative force here with his grounded and gothic lyrics being one of the main highlights of the record.

There are shades of Nick Cave, Jeff Buckley, Black Sabbath, Alice In Chains and even DANZIG which shows the broad musical landscape the band have projected within their impressive discography. The Arsonist is quite subdued and is alarmingly heavy when the need arises but it’s a different kind of HEAVY ROCK with a stripped back style being semi-acoustic in places which develops very early on tracks such as Dead End, Heart Of Mine and You Never Answered. These songs are cautiously slow and bleakly pessimistic at the best times but the thundering melodies and post-doom surroundings allows Wailin Storms to portray a mellow and blues rock environment which never lets a ray of sunshine or uplifting grooves to appear. 

The Arsonist can be too unforgiving for its own good but it shows you the depths of Occult Rock and Gothic Doom that the band are willing to thrust upon the listener. There’s some great use of psychedelic instrumental passages and drone rock appearing within the later stages of the record with an aggressive sideline of moody Grunge melodies. The other members of the band Ben Melton (Lead guitar, backup vocals, Rhodes organ, piano), Steve Stanczyk (Bass) and Mark Oates (Drums) all play to their musical strengths by putting in phenomenal performances throughout. This record sounds and feels like a real team effort even when Justin’s vocals and majestic persona takes centre stage for large parts of the record.

Another great aspect of the record is the stripped back production values that have a lovely analogue feeling which gives the whole thing a crisp, clean and moody atmosphere from beginning to end. This allows the Post-Punk themes of the record to fully shine through on the second half of the album, even impressing me the most. 

Other great tracks on The Arsonist include: The Arsonist, Never Rest, Saved, The Wind and It’s All Dark Now Where Your Eyes Used To Be. There’s a haunting romantic aspect that does start to form here which feels like there’s a massive EARTH influence appearing when you least expect it but the bleak and sometimes nihilistic lyrics allows Wailin Storms to form their own definitive musical legacy. 

The band are five albums into their career at this point and are really starting to gain a reputation as one of America’s best Gothic Rock bands currently out there as they explore different musical themes that’s so brilliantly original and emotionally striking with each passing record. The Arsonist is a towering achievement that’s deeply unflinching vision with Wailin Storms leaving you emotionally satisfied with an intense and gut wrenching musical experience. There’s no other way I can describe this album and that’s where I’m going to end this review.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Season Of Mist ffor the promo.

The Arsonist is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Season Of Mist.

Links 

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