In the twenty-first century, Anathema have often been mentioned in the same breath as Opeth and Porcupine Tree due to their increased movement towards thoughtful progressive rock structures. It hasn’t always been that way, of course. Like Opeth, the band began life as a totally different musical beast, playing in a melodic death metal style. Shifting line-ups naturally resulted in shifting sounds, and by the time the band signed with the legendary Music For Nations label for their fifth album ‘Judgement’ in 1999, they’d settled on a rather tough but accessible blend of gothy and alternative rock.
Tag Archives: doom
Sleep’s ‘Holy Mountain’ reissued on vinyl in March
Sleep’s 1992 release ‘Holy Mountain’ is to be reissued on vinyl in March. The classic stoner/doom release has become a fan favourite over the years, with original vinyl copies now very hard to find. A 220g vinyl reissue to tie in with the album’s tenth anniversary is similarly elusive.
Amplifier/Black Moth: upcoming UK gigs
Stoner rock band Black Moth have secured the support slot for some upcoming gigs with Amplifier in April 2015. The dates are part of the ongoing promotion for their 2014 album ‘Condemned To Hope’. [Full review here.]
PINEAL – Smiling Cult EP
Putting it bluntly, Pineal aren’t exactly shy with regard to their core influences on this release. Although their recording budget occasionally shows a few limitations, this London-based trio really love Alice In Chains. Their stock riffs are never a straight up reconstruction of the AIC sound, though, since most of the heavier elements are more of a doom-rock persuasion, much slower in pace than AIC at their most sludgy…and certainly much heavier in many respects. Any Alice In Chains homages are due to Daniel Murney‘s vocal style which – in more than a few places – really taps into Layne Staley’s trademark spooked out, nasal croon.
WITCH CHARMER – The Great Depression
The debut EP from Sunderland’s Witch Charmer – 2013’s ‘Europhoric Curse’ – presented four slabs of top-class metal. As a near-perfect example of the more accessible end of the doom metal/occult rock genre, they needed to work hard to surpass its greatness on any follow-up recording.