Page 96 - Metal Hammer Issue 334 - UK (May 2020)

ALBUM REVIEWS

SVM undeniably catch some WORLD
90s desert rock sunbeams
– sandstorm dynamics, SERVICE
squidgy riffs, caveman
drums – but there are Heavy metal uprisings
many colourful touches, from around the globe
and Kayley Davies’ voice
has promoted comparisons
ROSS THE BOSS with Elkie Brooks circa
Born Of Fire Vinegar Joe – not a name
AFM often dropped in heavy
True metal icon delivers some fresh circles, but an astute pointer
battle hymns to Sky Valley Mistress’s
As one of the primary tight-but-loose groove and
architects of 80s metal, sassy attitude. ARCADA
Katatonia have expanded
their emotional spectrum Ross The Boss could easily QQQQQQQQQQ Deeply in thrall to De
once more
spend all of his time FOR FANS OF: Kyuss, Led Mysteriis Dom Sathanas,
Zeppelin, Amy Winehouse
KATATONIA cranking out Manowar CHRIS CHANTLER this Peruvian four-piece’s
classics on the nostalgia
debut album teeters on the
City Burials circuit. Actually, he does borders of workmanlike
do that, but he also keeps
and ravishing, the tides
PEACEVILLE producing new variations of barbed riffs sloshing
Stockholm’s masters of sumptuous sorrow dig on that old and ageless against the gateway
deeper still theme, and Born Of Fire to something truly
restates his utter devotion transcendent.
STOCKHOLM GLOOM to the cause. With Marc QQQQQQQQQQ
KINGS Katatonia have Lopes roaring and howling JONATHAN SELZER
never put a foot wrong in like a man possessed and
nearly 30 years, always RTB on blistering form, SWEVEN
pushing forward, always everything from heads- The Eternal Resonance
uniquely Katatonia. down opener Glory To The VÁN
Singer Jonas Renkse and Slain to the ruminant squall Ex-Morbus Chron mainman
guitarist Anders Nyström of The Blackest Heart feels reaches out into post-death nirvana
first commanded the like a strident declaration The Eternal Resonance is
underground’s attention with of trad metal’s power. a fascinating album for
Katatonia’s 1992 demo, and by 1998’s Discouraged Ones, It’s brutal, bombastic and fans of the much-missed DIARCHY
Jonas’s alarmingly vulnerable clean vocals were aimed squarely at the Morbus Chron. Helmed Splitfire
centre-stage, Anders’ doomy riffs streamlined into diehards as false metal by that progressive death UNHERD MUSIC
profoundly emotive, achingly sparse structures. infidels are trampled metal band’s main song- The vocals on this Indian
With each LP Katatonia have grown in confidence and underfoot. Quite right writer, Robert Andersson, duo’s second full-length
craft, but we were still digesting 2016’s dense progressive QQQQQQQQQQ this essential debut may may not be to everyone’s
opus, The Fall Of Hearts, when the band announced FOR FANS OF: Manowar, be less DM than the tastes, but the majestic lead
a “hiatus” to “re-evaluate what the future holds.” Burning Witches, Overkill modern classic Sweven, of Gone Too Late, hypnotic
Happily, the future is Katatonia releasing better albums. DOM LAWSON but it is its natural spiritual vibe and meaty staccato
Immediately upfront, Jonas’s voice again reaches new successor. Andersson’s riffs of the title track have
heights, his increased dexterity and technique never unhinged screams remain, lots to offer.
compromising his raw emotion. The band deploy yet his guitar playing is QQQQQQQQQQ
every skill they’ve learnt; subtle complexities are even more nuanced and ADAM REES
counterpointed by heads-down riffing, while Jonas expansive than before.
regains a caustic six-string heft on progressive There’s a greater neo-
headbangers Behind The Blood and Rein. Advance cut classical bent to his rich,
Lacquer was a leftfield teaser; its lush electronic balladry adventurous phrasing,
might otherwise feel like an interlude between heavier which runs the gauntlet
songs, but its fragile beauty deserves attention, and its SKY VALLEY MISTRESS in terms of extreme styles
spirit runs through the album’s quieter moments. Faithless Rituals and occasionally crosses
For those who came to Katatonia via their scrupulously NEW HEAVY SOUNDS into neo-folk while
uncluttered late 90s work, the layers of detail in their Northern UK rockers bring retaining bite throughout, HAYVANLAR ALEMI
modern sound might feel overstated, like they’ve been a prismatic palette to their debut even at his most grand- Psychedelia In Times
visited by the ghost of George Martin. Songs like Flicker, With that name you might standing or introspective. Of Turbulence
Winter Of Our Passing and City Glaciers would be equally expect a set of Kyuss-clone It’s a truly exciting SUBSOUND
powerful without all the keys, synths, strings and jams, so it’s a nice surprise re-genesis and proof that Three Turkish voyagers
effects, but here’s where Katatonia nail that sumptuous, that this effervescent Morbus Chron inhabit the synthesise the styles of
cinematic dynamism. Feeling like the album Tool might foursome (implausibly from same creative sphere as Africa, the Middle East, Asia
have made if they’d remembered what actual human Blackburn) have developed contemporaries Tribulation. and beyond into an eclectic
emotions were, City Burials is arguably Katatonia’s their own identity on this QQQQQQQQQQ clutch of audio psilocybin.
strongest album for 20 years. hot-rocking debut. FOR FANS OF: Morbus An expansive, slow-winding
QQQQQQQQQQ Recorded at stoner ground Chron, Tribulation, trip that merits a ride.
FOR FANS OF: Tool, The Cure, Opeth zero Rancho de la Luna in Agrimonia QQQQQQQQQQ
CHRIS CHANTLER California’s Joshua Tree, DEAN BROWN JOE DALY

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