"Alloy"
[Red Stream Records]
In Metal, the only thing that should matter when it comes to whether a band is good or bad, is how the music sounds, how it makes you feel and the connection it builds with it's audience. On the otherhand though, when you have a band that has the connection, has the spark and has the deepness to hook you in, but then also has the right image, the right artwork and right frame of mind to pull off something special, that's what I like to call the jackpot. Or if you take this case for example, SKEPTICISM with their brand new release through Red Stream Records, "Alloy"
There are two qualities that not always, but often mean your going to get a quality Metal band. Nukber one, they would hail from the frozen north, a country synonimous with fine Metal history, Finland, and second, they will play unyealding ominous Doom! I'm not through the first track yet which incidentally goes by the name of "The Arrival" and already I'm hooked. It's slow progress, it winds it's way majestically through a black tide casting it's oppressive vibes upon me, yet I love it. "The Arrival" is such an apt name really, as Skepticism arrive to my conciousness for the first time and make such a big impression. By the time i'm settling down into "March October" I already know this is going to be something special. But as previously mentioned this band is not just about the music. The artwork for this release is simple, yet so striking and accurate for the name and feel of the release that I felt compelled to save it as my computer background! The entire package is just so perfect that as the current track marches [And it does feel like a slow march into battle] it's way through it's repetoire you have to catch yourself and remember that this was indeed written and performed by meer mortals, at least I think it was. "March October" is a hrash track with gruelling vocals and very heavy handed raw Doom riff-age. The bass and drum play is slow and simplistic but used to devasting effect, and Skepticism utilise their collective skills to create a dramatic sounding piece of music that is for ever writhing and churning, boiling up beneath the surface, constantly moving and changing.
"Antimony" is haunting and sports a big operatic sound. [Think Phantom Of The Opera] With every song comes a new style and whilst the generic heaviness and bleakness that the band is known for always remains the same, they keep adding little touches to keep the music fresh and varied. I cannot emphasise the heaviness enough though, as it's like being wrapped in a shroud of bitterness and vitriol with the lights turned out and your left with a vast sea of darkness and negative emotions. It's powerful both musically and also the feelings and connotations that arise from it. Again though a slight shift in thinking and you come to a much more melodic track, flowing beautifully from harmonic to heaviness and back again superbly and frequently, this is "The Curtain" which has a real old school Doom feel to it, forever winding and flowing almost uphill it seems to an unreachable goal, but Skepticism make it all sound so dynamic! "Pendulum" brings the pace right back down to earth, it's a cold harsh tune which uses symbols to their full haunting effect whilst the flow and melody suddently entwine with the violent reality of Skepticism's usual hard hitting sound.
To finish what is an extremely captivating and soulful album is the enchantingly entitled "Oars In The Dusk". Again slow in pace but this time not lengthy intricate intro showing the bands delecate and graceful leanings. No this time it's straight into the fire, directly into the brutality as Skepticism fiish you off until another time. massive organ sounds again adorn the track as in "Antimony" but this is a real end of the album feeling track as the band conjour up and combine everything that makes the great and blasts it all out at you in a tidal wave of bleak emotions and groovy melodies. This has been a superb album by a band who love to take their time to perfect their art, and it has been perfected, have no doubts.
5 Out Of 5
www.myspace.com/officialskepticism
www.skepticism.fi
