Here's a British band with a different take on doom. The first actual song is the title track, which finds female vocals washing over dark and brooding guitar that leans in a doom direction without overt metal influence driving it. If the Cowboy Junkies got depressed while making a Halloween album, I could see how there might be a similar tone regarding the sonic coors this is painted with. It' not going for the retro sound that the Devils Blood cultivated. "Flamed in Solititude" maintains the storm building, but with less of a metal guitar tone and just sullen chord cranked out in a manner that is more organic, rather than relying on the right pedals or amps. They do give the drummer a little more room to help dial in the dynamics.
"Pillory of Victory" rings out with a somewhat more grungy tone. The longing alto of their sinner continues to muse on her sanity as the song builds to a slow crescendo. The drums pick up enough to make it not sound like the previous song. Not sure the cover of "Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit was needed, but they do a decent version of it, though the guitars bang out the chords in a more straightforward clanging rock manner. Her voice takes the upper register notes well. "Bootlicker' uses a similar guitar tone and plays the chords in a dirty blues metal hard rock manner that falls under doom, but lacks any aspirations to sound like Black Sabbath.
The last song is more downtrodden as the dreary chords ring out with a more open and atmospheric sound, while still feeling very organic. Her vocals find their sweet spot and do not venture too far from them, though her emotive belt is a powerful tool in how these wongs are constructed. I like this album is dark without being overtly goth, which obviously I have nothing against goth, but it gives them more of their own identity in the path they have chosen. I will give this album a 9 as it sounds great, though msot songs carry a similar sonic color, it is a dark enough shade for me to enjoy.
pst 582
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