Post by thesoundmonitor on Jul 10, 2004 1:10:26 GMT -5
SECRET ORDER OF TUSK
Sick of Living/Unwilling to Die
(Audio Demolition)
Initially, I was unsure if I was the right person to be reviewing this release, as I’ve never really been into doom or stoner music that much. That is, until I pressed play and listened to the three tracks on this EP again and again. More often than not doom, for me, is too slow and tends to leave me so damn bored I want to scream, but Secret Order of Tusk have added enough speed and heavy laden groove into the mix to keep the music interesting and catchy, and thus retaining my attention.
Forming from three fourths of Gammera and supporting bands like Keelhaul, SOOT have had to rise to the occasion and do so with conviction.
Track 1 ‘Man of God’ starts off with a slow, heavy riff that is the main for the song, although during the verses a faster riff is used which is DEFINITELY a plus and helps break up the monotony that plagues so many bands of this genre. The vocals are of the barking style similar to bands like Crowbar.
‘Sick of Living/Unwilling to Die’ features lyrics based upon the letter a serial killer, ‘The Zodiac’, wrote to police after killing a taxi driver. It starts off with a slow and sludgy riff similar to track 1, but around the four-minute mark it picks up and becomes more intense. Not intense as in fast paced or anything, more so in that the band has a way of delivering music that is dark and brooding, controlled to never overwhelm the listener, but to pack a punch where needed.
Finally, track three gets off to a speedy start, which for me simply means it is the best track on here. The bass drum pounds a simple driving beat and the song is swimming in cymbals. There is nothing fancy about SOOT, they just play sludgy doom that is laden with the darker elements of the genre
The production is very muddy and the cymbals tend to drown out a lot of the other instruments at times, however I’m sure this is exactly how the band would want it. I also think the vocalist needs to do a little more with his voice, but not a lot, as I know this is the preferred approach of the genre but this band have proven to be something a little above the status quo and slightly more variance in the vocal department would push them that little bit further. This recording does give a good indication of where the band is headed and will hopefully get them a better deal. With more money spent on production, I look forward to hearing something more from them in the furutre.
Paul Irwin
www.Audiodemolition.com
Sick of Living/Unwilling to Die
(Audio Demolition)
Initially, I was unsure if I was the right person to be reviewing this release, as I’ve never really been into doom or stoner music that much. That is, until I pressed play and listened to the three tracks on this EP again and again. More often than not doom, for me, is too slow and tends to leave me so damn bored I want to scream, but Secret Order of Tusk have added enough speed and heavy laden groove into the mix to keep the music interesting and catchy, and thus retaining my attention.
Forming from three fourths of Gammera and supporting bands like Keelhaul, SOOT have had to rise to the occasion and do so with conviction.
Track 1 ‘Man of God’ starts off with a slow, heavy riff that is the main for the song, although during the verses a faster riff is used which is DEFINITELY a plus and helps break up the monotony that plagues so many bands of this genre. The vocals are of the barking style similar to bands like Crowbar.
‘Sick of Living/Unwilling to Die’ features lyrics based upon the letter a serial killer, ‘The Zodiac’, wrote to police after killing a taxi driver. It starts off with a slow and sludgy riff similar to track 1, but around the four-minute mark it picks up and becomes more intense. Not intense as in fast paced or anything, more so in that the band has a way of delivering music that is dark and brooding, controlled to never overwhelm the listener, but to pack a punch where needed.
Finally, track three gets off to a speedy start, which for me simply means it is the best track on here. The bass drum pounds a simple driving beat and the song is swimming in cymbals. There is nothing fancy about SOOT, they just play sludgy doom that is laden with the darker elements of the genre
The production is very muddy and the cymbals tend to drown out a lot of the other instruments at times, however I’m sure this is exactly how the band would want it. I also think the vocalist needs to do a little more with his voice, but not a lot, as I know this is the preferred approach of the genre but this band have proven to be something a little above the status quo and slightly more variance in the vocal department would push them that little bit further. This recording does give a good indication of where the band is headed and will hopefully get them a better deal. With more money spent on production, I look forward to hearing something more from them in the furutre.
Paul Irwin
www.Audiodemolition.com