Sabbath Assembly : "Rites of Passage"

It my be the addition of a second guitarist , but this album kicks off a lot heavier than I remember these guys being. Female proto-doom bands where almost a thing 5 years ago when bands like Blood Ceremony and Devils Blood really rose to prominence, Guitarist Kevin Hufnagel who has played in both Gorguts and Dysrhythmia , brings a technical prowess to the riffs. This makes them winding and angular while still holding a more classic metal chug. There is a darker touch to doom to "Angels Trumpets". Jamie Myer's alto is dramatic and exclamatory, she almost sounds like a witch from a Hammer horror movie from the 60s. I do not think once we get into the meat of the song that it doesn't draw you in until oddly enough a more tech death like riff surfaces and then they lock in behind it.

"I Must Be Gone" is darker and in some sense more melodic though it broods over the song before committing to it. It does build up, but I don't feel I really connect with it as much as I did the first two songs. More melodic layers are gradually introduced as the album progresses.  I lose time and fail to see where the darkly moody "Does Love Die" ends and "Twilight of God" begins. "Does Love Die" feels more like a neo-folk intro to the next song which would thus kick into the jams like a power ballad. It's the lonely wail of the guitar solo in "Does Love Die" that helps blur these lines , until I got a second listen in. Then I can hear the weird atmospheric ebb down that marks the beginning of the next song. It's has a creeping riff with a delay heavy clean to that smooths you back into the build up.

There are several things to like about this album. The fact it's proggy , but still has a darker mood coloring it. There is an almost Voivod like dissonance to "Seven Sermons to the Dead".  It also feels like Fear of God in how the vocals attack the chugged chorus like section. The closing song "the Bride of Darkness"  has an almost Iron Maiden feel to the way the riff gallops. There is a stellar almost Frank Zappa like solo going into this song's third act that is worth taking note of if you are into that sort of thing. While this is a guitar players album the riffs never seem like they re being written with 'Would this sound good to solo over ?" in mind. This is a pretty solid album, I am not sure how much air time it will get on my end , but can respectfully round this up to a 9.

Sabbath Assembly : "s/t" album review & "Ave Satanas" video

This New York band  could be lumped in with the whole occult rock scene in the same way In Solitude could also be pegged into that hole.  They lean toward the Church of Final Judgement lyrically, though it's not heavy handed here, where in the past they were writing straight up hymns for. The first two songs come on strong, they start of with swirling chaos and then as quick as you can throw up devil horns fly int a very Merciful Fate sounding riff. Then they follow this up with a song that carries a more ominous stomp. The vocals line where she chants the line that includes the song's title "this is like confessing a murder" is pretty catchy.

Just when I am about to write off "Burn Me, I Thirst For Fire" as being convoluted they lock into a heavier riff and  turn things around. The first riff to "Only You" starts off as straight u metal , then they ease off of it , only to have the drums bring them back into a more rocking section in time for the solo. "Fiery Angel of Desire" doesn't grab me until it breaks down into the more subtle passage midway into the song and it takes a turn for the better from their. One thing that strikes me about this band is how their singer doesn't try to do that melodramatic Grace Slick thing that afflicts many bands of this ilk.

"Ave Satanas" jerks you back and forth and is the first song where I can hear the retro vibe that is more prominent in this kind of thing. "The Earth's Sharp Edge"  has more of a hard rock chug to it. On the line where she sings "my fever is high" the song starts to soar. The bass player really gets busy underneath the guitar solo. Aside from the fact you can bet it's going to get heavier, this band doesn't have a formula, instead they take you are a crazed journey with many twists and turns. "Apparition of the Revolution" takes a bluesy doom course. The guitar solo on this song is ripping and is the point where the song takes a heavier turn. "Shadows of Emptiness" closes the album out on a more delicate folk like note. It certainly allow their singer to flex her pipes. Here are some slight Stevie Nicks moment. This is where they really fake you out as you are waiting for the heavy that never comes, which I can respect writing a ballad every now and then. Right of the bat I'll give this album a 9, I have a feeling it will grow on me as it sounds more natural and organic than the Demon Lung album which I also like, not sure if the ballad will make it to the iPod, but if you want something different from the Occult rock scene this is way more legit than Ghost.

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