Although only just released, this second album from the System Of A Down guitarist was actually recorded six years ago. Malakian has been quoted as saying that it was delayed mainly due to the uncertainty about SOAD and their future. Well, this may well be the album that SOAD should have delivered. Immediate and accessible, full of crunching riffs, memorable hooks and a pleasing heaviness, this should get the seal of approval from all those SOAD fans who still yearn for a follow up to Hypnotise, which quite astonishingly was released 13 years ago! With Malakian playing all the instruments and delivering the vocals as well, this could well have been a disjointed performance, but it is the complete opposite, coherent and fluid throughout.
Opener Lives, a commemoration of the Armenian genocide is a hard-hitting track very much in the SOAD style. However, as the album develops, more styles are explored and progressed. Guns Are Loaded, a poignant, slow paced track is more relevant now than it was six years ago. Talkin’ Shit contains the same vitriolic aggression that SOAD so often did, whilst covers of Gie Mou, originally by the Greek Elvis, Stamatis Kokotas and Skinny Puppy’s Assimilate close out the album in style. I was never a massive fan of SOAD, but this album is worth getting involved with. 8/10
Now past their 25th anniversary, Wisconsin death metal legends Jungle Rot show no signs of slowing up. Their self-titled tenth album is a visceral slice of aggressive thrashing death metal which cannot fail to get the neck snapping. Huge meaty riffs, slow stomping melodies and ferocious passages of all-out speed all combine to provide a brutal release. Delusional Denial neatly nestled in the middle of the album contains everything that you could want from a band who despite numerous line-up changes remain so relevant to the scene today. Opener Send Forth Oblivion sets the pace, full throttle thrash combined with the guttural vocals of Dave Matrise so sweet. It continues throughout the 38 minutes, all the way through until Terrible Certainty, by which time the initial sheer ferocity which hit you like a forearm smash has continued to pound the brain until you submit in a pool of your own juice. Geoff Bub’s battering drumming, the gargantuan bass lines of James Genenz and Matrise’s huge riffs make Jungle Rot an album you cannot afford to miss this year. 9/10
Indica: Disparity Of A Day (Self Released)
Not to be confused with the Finnish female outfit who have supported Nightwish on separate tours in recent years, this is Indica from Brisbane, Australia. Disparity Of A Day follows on from their 2016 debut Stone Future Hymns. As frontman Jayesh Talati says it’s “much more of a spiritual journey than our previous album. The lyrical content and musical energy flow from song to song, tying together at the end in an ouroboros-like effect.” In case you hadn’t gathered by now, this is a band who play lengthy doom and stoner rock, and I mean lengthy, with four of the tracks on this release close to or over 13 minutes each in length. Wanderer, the second track on the release, is a crushing, menacing meander with angst ridden vocals, wave after wave of crushing riffs and crashing cymbals.
Drummer Michael Flint: "Disparity Of A Day is more than just a second album. It represents a positive shift in all areas of Indica’s collective and individual lives, musically and spiritually. A fully collaborative effort between the four of us (five when you consider how much work Chris Brownbill put into production).” There are times when you just must let the music wash over you. This is 72 minutes of astonishing heaviness, slow and spiritual, similar in many respects to the legendary Warning UK, St Vitus and Pentagram, to name but three. 7/10
Brimstone Coven: What Was And What Shall Be (Self Released)
Back in February 2016 I reviewed Black Magic, the sophomore release from the West Virginian outfit who filled their sound with doom and stoner occult themed hard rock. Well, album number three is here and doesn’t change the style or sound, with more occult flavoured tracks such as Lucifer Rising and the haunting The Red Witch. According to the band’s Facebook there has been a change with the band now down to three piece, Dave Trik having replaced Justin Wood and guitarist Corey Roth and bassist Andrew D’Cagna now sharing the vocal duties. Roth’s guitar work remains as compelling as on previous work, a dirty fuzzy sound blended with the retro vibe the band effortlessly create. With more Sabbath riffs than you can handle, What Was And What Shall Be is another quality release. Take a ride and head to the Coven. 7/10
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