Dool : "The Shape Of Fluidity"

I like the two previous albums, but it raises the bar high for them. The way the vocals are produced reminds me a little more of Ghost and I can hear how they are closer to conforming to a more mainstream brand of rock as the opening song places them closer to the Pretty Reckless and Halestorm. While they do not have the more retro stoner rock sound, which is more aggressive and darker, I will just have to keep listening and see how this pans out for the album as a whole. The second song has a more sinewy prog feel. None of it comes within striking distance of doom, but it is well done. 

The first song that grabs me is the title track which has a darker slither to its winding groove. This is a more refined and accessible effort. The production is really crips and all the sounds are dialed in 110 percent. There is also a cool jammed-out section to the title track that features so great guitar work. It reminds me of the last Royal Thunder album. The androgynous alto of their lead singer sits at the forefront of most mixes. "Evil in You" is dark but more rock than metal. Even when the pace picks up. I appreciate the mood being invoked here despite the melodies not having the same hooks as the previous albums. 

"House of a Thousand Dreams" is dark enough, and finds vocals intersecting interestingly, but the slow burn allows it to drone a bit. "Hermagorgon" has a more ominous tone. It might be the closest they have come to doom so far. However, the aggression that comes with metal is dialed back which does not allow the heavier dynamics to hit as hard. "Hymn For A  Memory Lost" works for what they are going for here, which is really all you can ask for. 

I like the reverbed-out guitar tone used in the last song. The song meanders in the shadows.  However, a guitar tone is not enough to build a song around. While this album sounds great the fact that it does not pack the same kind of metallic punch hinders some of the dynamics that needed to go up to 11. I will give this album an 8, in some ways it was a bit of a letdown after the first two albums, but I can appreciate not just cooking into the same formula again. 

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