Album Review: Green Lung-Necropolitan

-

 

Photo Courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records



 Doom Metal act Green Lung celebrates the dark side of the Capital on "Necropolitan". The title comes from the seven garden cemeteries, known as Necropolises, that surround London. This release draws on folklore, myths, and occult themes that are perfect for Halloween. Each track has that eerie sense, with the music and lyrics emphasising the dark places the band wants to explore. The album is nine tracks long and feels like a nod to the seventies Prog/psychedelic scene. It clearly shows influences from bands like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, with thick, downtuned riffs and rich, atmospheric keys throughout.

Produced by Ghost Producer Tom Dalgety, the album was recorded at Rockfield Studios this past January. The album aims to establish the band as a rock band with a penchant for powerful storytelling and strong riffs. Green Lung formed in 2018 and has released four studio albums and one EP. They have always written songs about folklore and the occult, which mirrors Prog, doom, and NWOBHM. "Necropolitan" serves as a good introduction to the band. The follow-up to 2023's "The Heathen Land" is heavier, with more hook-laden tracks.

Photo Courtesy of Andy Ford

Opener: "Dance to the Grave" is a testament to this,  featuring heavy, swinging riffs and hypnotic nasal vocals. It feels like Ozzy is still with us in spirit. The momentum carries through with the equally murky "Black Magick Radio", featuring Sabbath-like riffs that are heavy and hit like a sledgehammer. The addition of the keys is fast and chaotic, creating tension in the music.

The album reaches its pinnacle with the band's major single, "Evil in this House," featuring scintillating solos and a catchy chorus bound to set arenas alight. "Ozymandias" is a tribute to the famous 1818 sonnet by Percy Bysshe Shelley. The song carries on the gothic themes throughout the album with a nice jazz-inspired solo breakdown. The album does take a seat with some slower tracks, such as the balladry power of "Together in Death", whilst the closer "To the Gallows Born" is like a Judas Priest ballad that builds in tension. There is a nice blues riff and powerful vocals that seep with raw emotion.

Guitarist Scott Black's fuzzy tone works around the colourful textures of mellotron, which gives "Necropolitan" its macabre feeling. The band have worked hard to create an album that leans towards the past, but has that sense of a psychedelic and gothic new release.


Social Media Links








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

EP Review: Virtue in Vain-Nothing is All I Am

-
Image
  CoverArtwork Courtesy of San Pr Words Written by Anselm Anderson Today marks the final chapter of an emphatic trilogy by British Metalcore Heavyweights , Virtue in Vain . Nothing is All I Am ' is the third instalment exploring human emotions and psyche.  The trio began their journey in 2015 with their debut EP,  For All You Know is the Mask I Wore ,  focusing on the loss of identity, before 2019's   Dusk//Dawn , looking at the consequences of a terrible night out, whilst 'Nothing is All I Am ' focuses on rebuilding a fractured mind. The trio of lead vocalist Hywel Thomas, guitarist Mason Williams, and drummer Daniel Bryant hail from South Wales and deliver another dose of metalcore that hits like a sledgehammer to the head. The band replicates what many other British bands of the genre do, but they bring a story behind their music. Their emotional cries blend with powerful riffs and down-tuned instrumentals that resonate long after the music has stopped. ...
Read more

Review: Stereophobia- Choke on This

-
Image
Photo Credit: Eclipse Records   Words written by Anselm Anderson Last week, Stereophobia released their highly anticipated sophomore album, Choke on This , through Eclipse Records. This album follows their 2023 debut, No One Cares, and features a straightforward blend of alt-rock and grunge influences. Stereophobia is a power trio based in Lisbon, Portugal, consisting of guitarist and vocalist Mike Rocha, drummer Daniel Antunes, and bassist Bruno Santos. Produced by Miguel Camillo and mixed, mastered and recorded alongside Stereophobia at MC Studios. Choke on This consists of thirteen tracks filled with musically unsettling tones, angst-driven lyrics, and sonically enriching riffs that cut deep. Photo Credit: Rodrigo Vargas The album opens with an unsettling monologue that transitions into the intense cries of 'Maggots', which combines frenetic riffs and frenzied harsh vocals, propelling this album into a dramatic surge of grunge. The album maintains a grunge essence, echoing ...
Read more

Review: Little King: Lente Viviente

-
Image
  Written by Anselm Anderson Texan rock trio Little King has returned with their eighth studio album, Lente Viviente , which is their most progressive and ambitious work to date. The release was recorded a few months back in Arizona , marking the first time the band have recorded outside their native Texas. The band has made some personnel changes since their last outing six years ago. Drummer Tony Bojorquez joins guitarist and vocalist Ryan Rossoff , along with bassist and cellist David Hamilton , to record this seven-track release. The album draws similarities to prog rock icons Rush and Genesis while presenting a fresh and original approach. It sounds as though the band has undergone some serious soul-searching over those years. The album title Lente Viviente  roughly translates to "Living Lens," a play on words of Rossoff's Video Memoir Production company, LivingLens Memoirs . It examines the balance between truth and perception, featuring thought-provoking lyrics...
Read more