Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 09:13 PM by Giorgos Tsekas
Genre: Doom, Heavy Metal
Country: U.S.A.
Label: Church Within
Year: 2018
N.W.O.B.H.M. was not just a sub genre of rock or a geographical description of a small musical movement. It was something huge in terms of variety and plurality of directions and it was mostly something that influenced many in so many different countries and music species. On the other hand it was a genre that blended so many dissimilar influences from the entire rock spectrum, something that made it strong and rich and capable to stand the test of time. The Doom side of N.W.O.B.H.M. is not so popular amongst the fans worldwide, but no one can claim to be a true fanatic of the genre without owning a couple of records from Pagan Altar and Witchfinder General or Solstice. Criminally underrated or not, most of the audience focus on ‘happier’ more rock ‘n roll or just faster bands from N.W.O.B.H.M. movement and Doom ones are rather underestimated or less popular. Cruthu are not an N.W.O.B.H.M. band. They are coming from Michigan, U.S.A. and they were formed in 2014. This is their debut studio album, and the first with this lineup. ‘The Angle of Eternity’ features vocalist Ryan Evans, replacing their first female vocalist Terri Brown, who sang on their Creation demo in 2014. To be 100% honest, Cruthu are an almost 100% American band. Not in the way Grand Funk Railroad said it in 1973…but Cruthu are so Doom and so American that all this prologue seem rather out of place. Or not? ‘The Angle of Eternity is a traditional doom, I could say 70’s album, with a lot of N.W.O.B.H.M. elements that probably explain my sayings in the beginning. You can hear a lot of parts from Black Label Society, Clutch (check the song ‘Séance’) or even Goatsnake, but you can’t ignore the Sabbath vibe (‘Separeted From the Herd’) or the Trouble riffing in the entirety of the album. At the same time you can feel the aura of Pagan Altar and Witchfinder General, while the song writing is not based on typical Doom patterns and follow a more British guitar approaching in the veins of Witchfynde and Angel Witch. The vocal lines remind me of Candlemass and Solitude Aeternus, as Ryan Evans’ voice reminds me of Robert Lowe. The album is honest and a true gem despite the lack of originality. Highlights: ‘Lady in the Lake’ and ‘Bog of Kildare’. Cruthu are a name we will definitely see a lot in the near future.
