Sea of Black Trees : "Cult of the Sun"

 

This album by these Australian rockers came out in May and fell under my radar, so this is somewhat of a music lull that gives me the chance to catch up with it. The songs drone with a slow burn that sprawls out into a jam that causes the first actual song to collide into the second. Some elements remind me of the band Ours. What sets the second song, "Servant of the Sun," apart is it builds into a more Opeth-like chug of metal, with growled vocals even surfacing to counterbalance the more dynamic soaring vocals. \It evolves into more Alice in Chains-like vocals drifting over a more serpentine proggy riff.

They seem to have a thing for atmospheric interludes to set the mood.. These often bleed into the actual songs. If they ever tell you they have never listened to the Doors, make sure to take a step back before lightning strikes. Continue to unfurl their brand of hypnotic grunge that is punctuated by bursts of death metal growls. In some ways in reminds me of the post-grunge band Insomniac, but a heavier, more metallic version of what they did/.The title track finds them leaning into the more atmospheric side of prog as the drummer continues to excel by stirring the pot with his winding meter. This elevates the song's dynamics. 

"Omen" is another case of where one song bleeds out of another; perhaps it's the mesmerizing vocal melodies that feel more like a texture, as it is all very fluid. The more power-chord crashes that pack a punch here bring Tool to mind. Granted, all of the bands they have drawn comparisons to are artists I like so this plays to their favor as it's familar without borrowing, though the vocals might be the exception to this rule as there is no way the producer did not comment on how they sound like Alice in Chains. I appreciate that they are willing to build things into a growl, but I am not sure is is necessary. 

"Eclipse" feels like the last song as the final track is more of an outro that hovers without the needed build into something solic. With that "Eclipse" is another song that builds with a psychedelic simmer. The vocals complement the ambiance created here. However the abstract manner in which the vocals drip into the songs is not something i would call hooky it is the sound of Alice in Chains, but not the hooks that put them on the radio. For this reason I will round this one down to a 9, which is still excellent msot of this is due to the dreamy narcotic mood they have woven here.