Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 12:13 AM by Nikos Nakos
Genre: Experimental Post-Black Metal
Country: U.S.A.
Label: Relapse
Year: 2014
Tombs, oriented from Brooklyn’s underground metal scene, have made an impact with their first full-length album “Winter Hours”, back in 2009. The reason? Their rather unique sound, which, having “Neurosis” as their main influence, extended to black, hardcore, even punk pathways. Even more, the group’s ability in binding all these influences together successfully.
Their second album “Path of Totality” issued in 2011, followed musically the steps of its predecessor, so eventually the New Yorkers are about to publish their third full length album.
What new is there in store within their new work? First off they try a different approach with their sound. The rawness in their sound that followed the trends of all the sludge influences of the band, is now replaced with a more “well-shined” production, crafted by Erik Rutan (Hate Eternal). Furthermore, the Americans have restrained their post-metal influences in the songwriting, giving way for a more blackish sound in addition with some doom parts. Their new direction may apparently disappoint some of their die-hard post-sludge metal fans. The songs are constantly shifting gears and balance between rawness and atmosphere, aiming at keeping the listeners in vigilance. Do they succeed? Mostly, but not entirely. And the reason for this is that, isolating all the black, crust-punk, doom parts of their songs, it is rather obvious that everything has been overplayed in the past. That fact, combined with the excessive length of some of the songs, makes the album rather tiring after a few spins.
In conclusion, the third release of the band is imo well structured, without at the same time managing to make any breakthrough in the new musical fields that is centered.
4/6
