There are specific qualities that I appreciate in music that transcend genre. There's a physical sensation that a certain down-tuned chord progression creates along my spine--a sort of "icy hand of death" thing that makes my marrow resonate and sets up a thrumming beneath my sternum as if sinister doings are afoot. Early Black Sabbath provides precisely this kind of frisson. My daily subway commute takes on ominous significance with the sort of dirgey musical accompaniment provided by the inheritors of the Sabbath sound.
It's hard for me to prosthelytize for this band enough--their 2007 effort "Witchcult Today" is my current desert island album. For those who aren't fans already, I hope to convince you over the course of the next several words! If the fact that they sound like early Sabbath isn't enough for you, perhaps you'll be swayed by their sinister occult references. Or maybe you'd like to know that Rosalba Neri and Jess Franco are thanked in the liner notes of their latest album, "Black Masses." Hell, this band convinces me that maybe-just-maybe HP Lovecraft's fans aren't the worst thing to happen to his legacy. Listen to this fuzzed-out doom riff and DESPAIR:
Electric Wizard is currently on tour in Europe. If you're fortunate enough to attend one of these shows, please report back to me and drink the sweetness of my envious tears.
Blood Ceremony
Toronto's Blood Ceremony amp up the prog-rock elements of the Sabbath sound, adding in flute trills and female vocals for a slightly sweeter take on the sinister. Drawing inspiration from the works of Aleister Crowley, Arthur Machen, and other late 19th/early 20th Century mystics, this band brings a psychedelic appeal to their tales of deviltry.
Orange Goblin
In the words of Tenebrous friend/mentor/artist/general person of excellence Joey Zone, "is there a better band name than ORANGE frikkin' GOBLIN?" Perhaps not (although Slambuki and Cadaviar are contenders, though their music is nowhere near as good). These guys lay down an intense riff with a groovy blues drive behind it that calls to mind Motörhead and sometimes even Southern Rock stalwarts Lynyrd Skynyrd (who doesn't love Skynard? LIARS, that is who). If Electric Wizard and Blood Ceremony call you to the Sabbath, Orange Goblin provides the afterparty. Orange Goblin is touring the US this spring/summer, and I'm going to assume my pals on this side of the Atlantic will be rushing off to buy tickets now.
A fantastic resource for more doom/sludge/psychedelic music reviews and interviews is Doommantia. The editors at that site are incredibly knowledgeable and cover downtuned excellence from around the globe. I've learned about a ton of excellent acts I'd never have been exposed to otherwise through this site, and I just can't recommend it highly enough!
8 comments:
Kate, you're speaking my language here with the mighty Electric Wizard and Orange Goblin. You might try checking out Blood Farmers, as they mine similar territory quite well, albeit having only put out one album. But think of the street cred if you can drop a Blood Farmers reference!
Speaking of street cred, you best correct your spelling of Lynyrd Skynyrd, or those English bands following you here who are trying to sound like they crawled out of the American South are going to get their tizzy on. . . .
Bless your proofreading heart, Chris! My dilettante-hood shines through at times ;) Am mentally right-click-saving Blood Farmers for seeking out at the soonest possible convenience. You see, this was all a clever ruse to get my music-knowledgier pals to chime in with suggestions! Crowd-sourcing, y0--the wave of the future.
Awesome paylist too!!! i had seen your selection got more heavy sound, thats way NECROPHAGIA will definitely get in to this paylist. Recently i had discover another cool band related to horror they named blizaro theyre signe to the american brutal label razorback recs they are killer!!!!
CYA!!!!!
The i'mnotLYIN Zone say:
O. G. yes
L. S. NO
in my evil heart i conclude:
Best. Plane. Malfunction. EVAR. ;/
BN, I know Necrophagia has a rabid fanbase and that those gents are serious, serious horror film fans. It's good to share a world with them :) I'll definitely add Blizaro to my list--thank you once again for a great recommendation!
Joey Zone, HOW CAN WE EVEN BE FRIENDS?!?! *sobs* We'll definitely need to settle this outrage over absinthe and doooooom in the near future. *continued sobbing*
You'll want to get your hands on some Pagan Altar for further heavy sounds from the British Isles in the late 70's. I think they have some ties to Witchfinder General as well.
Exploder, NWOBHM recs are always welcome--I'd never heard of Pagan Altar before, but will certainly be seeking them out now. Thank you!
Pagan Altar is indeed good, but my favorite "modern" act doing the vintage doom has got to be The Lamp of Thoth. LOVE that band.
http://www.myspace.com/thelampofthoth
God, MySpace has become bloated, steaming heap, hasn't it?
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