London experimentalists made a mark on me when I saw them at Masters Of The Riff Festival a few years ago.
Their brain frying mix of doom, shoegaze, noise coupled with eye bleeding video visuals made for something that at the time caught me off guard but weeks after they were band I thought about most.
Not a gig but rather an experience that I wasn't quite ready for but wanted more of. They released their previous album Cataclysm in 2024 and while this was supposed to be a direct follow up, (des) had to become something different when their vocalist left.
That meant that (des) became a collaboration between artists, the band writing songs and inviting friends to come and sing on them, its also drummer Jack Revans' first official release with the band and recently they announced Ana-Maria Terr Bordei as their vocals it going forward.
Recorded with Wayne Adams at Bear Bites Horse Studios, the great and the good of the UK heavy music scene appears here, initially they had the idea of a few vocalists but each track has a different one, making the album a celebration of Troy The Band and their impact on their scene.
Porous begins the record with a woozy atmosphere and colossal doom riffs, the vocals of Soozi Chamelone (ex-Dead Witches) perfectly suited to this occult doom sound.
Not a gig but rather an experience that I wasn't quite ready for but wanted more of. They released their previous album Cataclysm in 2024 and while this was supposed to be a direct follow up, (des) had to become something different when their vocalist left.
That meant that (des) became a collaboration between artists, the band writing songs and inviting friends to come and sing on them, its also drummer Jack Revans' first official release with the band and recently they announced Ana-Maria Terr Bordei as their vocals it going forward.
Recorded with Wayne Adams at Bear Bites Horse Studios, the great and the good of the UK heavy music scene appears here, initially they had the idea of a few vocalists but each track has a different one, making the album a celebration of Troy The Band and their impact on their scene.
Porous begins the record with a woozy atmosphere and colossal doom riffs, the vocals of Soozi Chamelone (ex-Dead Witches) perfectly suited to this occult doom sound.
As a side note it's great to hears Soozi's vocals on something heavy again and they return for Denial, another grooving doom track which pays homage to Sabbath and also features Matt Sutton of Tayne at the end.
Journey's End dials up the psychedelia with some throbbing bass and swirling feedback driven passage through paranoia which features Peter Holland of Elephant Tree and Kay Elizabeth of Black Orchid combining their clean drawls.
Journey's End dials up the psychedelia with some throbbing bass and swirling feedback driven passage through paranoia which features Peter Holland of Elephant Tree and Kay Elizabeth of Black Orchid combining their clean drawls.
It also has Caine Hemmingway of Believe In Nothing screaming with rage, he comes back on The Moment which is abrasive hardcore with a thick bottom end letting him loose.
Rage is also the name of the game on Nothing where an angular guitar riff underpins the sludge heaviness and Jake Packham's (Black Groove) throat shredding vocals.
Rage is also the name of the game on Nothing where an angular guitar riff underpins the sludge heaviness and Jake Packham's (Black Groove) throat shredding vocals.
Final track Choke proves to be the heaviest here with Hemmingway, Packham joined by David Burdis of Black Shape and Ryan Denham for an unholy noise of an ending.
While Holland and Elizabeth get a chance to once again take Troy The Band into the stratosphere with and eight minute journey into the psychdelic stoner reaches of their sound.
While Holland and Elizabeth get a chance to once again take Troy The Band into the stratosphere with and eight minute journey into the psychdelic stoner reaches of their sound.
Adding a throbbing bit of distorted groove from bassist Sean Durbin and big fills and jazz timings from drummer Jack Revans as guitarist Sean Burn moves between the ambient and aggressive.
Ana-Maria appears here on Adoration Of Ill Luck, showing off her versatile and soulful vocals sound that fits Troy The Band perfectly, in places even sounding like Cher, which is a huge compliment even if it might not sound like one.
With Ana-Marie behind the mic the future of Troy The Band is safe, until the album they have already written together is done, know that there's no false promise or wooden horse here, just a collaboration between one of the UK's noisiest bands and their talent friends. 9/10
Nxmad - The Second Fall (APF Records) [Matt Bladen]
The Second Fall carries the legend "recorded and mixed by Joe Clayton at No Studio/mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege" now a sign of a record that will attack you like a belt sander to the face.
There are few production teams that can get an intense rawness and a polished sophistication, so it's why they are in demand for any band who come from the hardcore/sludge underground scene and make a lot of noise.
Nxmad make a lot of noise, be that swaggering sludge grooves, breakneck hardcore blasts or something in between, they shout, scratch claw and brutalise on their new album The Second Fall, released through those denizens of all things heavy APF Records.
Formed in Manchester all the way back in 2012, they were previously known as Nomad, releasing their debut album Feral in 2019 on APF Records, I remember giving the record high marks, as it took doom to the outer reaches of the genre, with sludge, hardcore and more rougher textures fighting their way through.
As with a lot of things after 2019, there was a lull, a hiatus and with a change in drummer they have rebranded as Nxmad, getting angrier, much angrier.
Ana-Maria appears here on Adoration Of Ill Luck, showing off her versatile and soulful vocals sound that fits Troy The Band perfectly, in places even sounding like Cher, which is a huge compliment even if it might not sound like one.
With Ana-Marie behind the mic the future of Troy The Band is safe, until the album they have already written together is done, know that there's no false promise or wooden horse here, just a collaboration between one of the UK's noisiest bands and their talent friends. 9/10
Nxmad - The Second Fall (APF Records) [Matt Bladen]
The Second Fall carries the legend "recorded and mixed by Joe Clayton at No Studio/mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege" now a sign of a record that will attack you like a belt sander to the face.
There are few production teams that can get an intense rawness and a polished sophistication, so it's why they are in demand for any band who come from the hardcore/sludge underground scene and make a lot of noise.
Nxmad make a lot of noise, be that swaggering sludge grooves, breakneck hardcore blasts or something in between, they shout, scratch claw and brutalise on their new album The Second Fall, released through those denizens of all things heavy APF Records.
Formed in Manchester all the way back in 2012, they were previously known as Nomad, releasing their debut album Feral in 2019 on APF Records, I remember giving the record high marks, as it took doom to the outer reaches of the genre, with sludge, hardcore and more rougher textures fighting their way through.
As with a lot of things after 2019, there was a lull, a hiatus and with a change in drummer they have rebranded as Nxmad, getting angrier, much angrier.
Offering similar sludge riffery as early Mastodon, where the slow crush of doom is frittered away into a more direct sound that goes for the throat with rampaging tracks such as Vertigo or the angular bite of Bridge Burner.
After this break Nxmad have gotten a lot more pissed off, streamlining their assault but not reducing its impact, The Second Fall is relentless. Savage from the first moment, there's very little time to rest or reflect on what you're listening too, just the expectation of another beating laying around the corner.
Nomad no more, Nxmad keep the legacy but take their music into nastier places on The Second Fall. 8/10
Martyrs Saint - From Strength To Strength (Self Released) [Adz Redpath]
Bristol based Thrashers Martyrs Saint build on old school thrash adding in a modern tinge and a hardcore strength that absolutly rips, this release is fire.
Im notoriously strict on scoring as many in the reviewing culture so easily give out high scores when they are unwarented and don't understand the underlying aspects of a release and the industry however in this instance these guys are the future of UK thrash/hardcore scene and I can not reccomend them enough.
After this break Nxmad have gotten a lot more pissed off, streamlining their assault but not reducing its impact, The Second Fall is relentless. Savage from the first moment, there's very little time to rest or reflect on what you're listening too, just the expectation of another beating laying around the corner.
Nomad no more, Nxmad keep the legacy but take their music into nastier places on The Second Fall. 8/10
Martyrs Saint - From Strength To Strength (Self Released) [Adz Redpath]
Bristol based Thrashers Martyrs Saint build on old school thrash adding in a modern tinge and a hardcore strength that absolutly rips, this release is fire.
These guys have lots in common with the likes of Hatebreed etc and it shows in the best possible way.
This release sounds great with a killer production throughout with an especially crushing guitar tone from Amarè Hurley and plenty of bottom end shining through along with some healthy use of samples here and there.
The bass and drums here are very strong as you would hope for from this style and the vocals from Brandon Goodair attack the listener at every turn, the e.p.'s title is very very apt indeed.
The playing and musicianship on display here are adept far beyond the youth of the band and it is undeniably energetic and bouncy throughout and will only improve im sure with every release, this is a band that I hear crush it live and I'm not surprised given the frenetic power on show here.
The playing and musicianship on display here are adept far beyond the youth of the band and it is undeniably energetic and bouncy throughout and will only improve im sure with every release, this is a band that I hear crush it live and I'm not surprised given the frenetic power on show here.
Some more time and even better production could well catapult these guys to the upper echelon of the genres and put them up with the likes on Malevolence etc.
Im notoriously strict on scoring as many in the reviewing culture so easily give out high scores when they are unwarented and don't understand the underlying aspects of a release and the industry however in this instance these guys are the future of UK thrash/hardcore scene and I can not reccomend them enough.
I will be following their socials and reccomend you do also and chekc them out live asap these guys deserve the support. Every track is a banger play it loud and buy their merch. 8/10
Soothsayer – The Unbinding (Apocalyptic Witchcraft) [Adz Redpath]
Newly signed to Apocalyptic records Soothsayer are forging ahead with their second full length release The Unbinding, Based out of County Cork in Southwest Ireland.
Newly signed to Apocalyptic records Soothsayer are forging ahead with their second full length release The Unbinding, Based out of County Cork in Southwest Ireland.
This five piece are a what I would class as an old school doom metal band with hefty influence from the likes of My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost and wearing it on their sleeves serves them well.
The Unbinding is a well produced and atmospheric release with a more natural and classic sound, not feeling overproduced or quantised overtly it has character that many are lacking in the current music scene, everything being recorded in a studio as opposed to programmed to infinity and beyond.
There is noticeable peaking in the guitar tracks and fluctuations in the drum tempo that speak to a morelive sense in the studio and certain eqing that maybe comes from a less modern metal production and has a more raw aspect built in on purpose.
The vocals air more on the death side of early doom but with a healthy balance of cleaner more emotive parts. The guitars work well with melodic and doom tones having their own space and balanced with the rhythm section well giving everything a voice within the mix.
The vocals air more on the death side of early doom but with a healthy balance of cleaner more emotive parts. The guitars work well with melodic and doom tones having their own space and balanced with the rhythm section well giving everything a voice within the mix.
Soothsayer may not be breaking any new ground stylistically or sound wise with this release in fact quite the opposite as a more classic sound is embraced throughout but It feels right and not forced.
The final track on this release A Vague Shimmer for me is a true standout on this release and speaks to a band that could progress a lot further musically and if given the right direction and tour slots carve their own space in the doom scene.
The final track on this release A Vague Shimmer for me is a true standout on this release and speaks to a band that could progress a lot further musically and if given the right direction and tour slots carve their own space in the doom scene.
I would certainly recommend giving this your time if the aforementioned influences are something that peak your interest as this Is MDB, Turn Loose The Swans era doom done very well and should satisfy that classic hunger for something more raw and classic. 6/10
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