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April 2024

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Smoulder: Times of Obscene Evil and ...

Traditional Heavy/Doom Metal

4.0/5.0

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Cruz Del Sur Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 01.05.2019 | Released: 10.05.2019

Canada's Smoulder wins this year's award for the most interesting and longest album title. But Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring took some time in coming. Formed in 2013 by Sarah Ann (drums) and Shon Vincent (guitar) with a fondness for classic heavy and doom metal, the two musicians struggled to hold the band together with consistent personnel. After switching Sarah Ann to vocals only, the duo persevered securing a second guitarist, drummer, and bass player. Satisfied, Smoulder released a three song demo, Sword Woman, in 2018. This, in turn, provoked the interest of Cruz Del Sur Records who signed the band to release Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring.

Smoulder

Raised on a diet of classic NWoBHM but also doom acts such as Reverend Bizarre, Lamp of Thoth, and Solitude Aeternus, Smoulder has crafted their own combination of these venerable genres. As you would expect Smoulder cherishes the fundamentals: twin guitar harmony, soaring leads, a heavy steady rhythm section for gallop and groove, and Sarah Ann's clean soaring vocals. With the combination of big pounding drums, thick bass line, swollen twin riffage, and steady pacing for an epic sound, Smoulder easily echoes their heroes ofclassic heavy and doom metal.

Six songs fill this short 37 minute album, making it suitable for vinyl distribution, of course. The album features two songs from the demo, The Sword Woman and Voyage Of The Sunchaser. The former is heavy and steady moving squarely upon its impressive guitar lines. The latter definitely defines epic heavy metal, but does it by mixing it with some power metal swiftness. But for true power metal, Bastard Steel roars with some assertive pacing as the drums and bass line rattle your cranium. More epic doom-infused heavy metal arrives with the finishing song, Black God's Kiss. Expect plenty of thunder and foreboding from the heavy steady rhythm section which rules the song. Riffs and leads seem secondary but, with an increase in speed, a killer guitar solo eventually rises at the end. This song is a case of being "a bit too doomish" for this traditionalist. Nevertheless, doom metal fans will be smoking their bongs overtime with his song. All said, Smoulder's Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring delivers finely crafted and entertaining traditional epic heavy metal. Recommended.

Steel Night: Fight Till The End

Traditional Heavy Metal

4.0/5.0

From the heartland of Mexico, Steel Night was formed a mere three years ago and then releasing a simple one song demo and a two song EP. But the band gained ... [ Read More ]

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Smoulder's Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring delivers finely crafted and entertaining traditional epic heavy metal. Recommended.

Alphabetical Index

Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]