Random Bandcamp musings

Hello again, hello. Welcome to another post and another new band (for me at least) do rave about.

This post features a band I discovered  not on M-A (though they are featured) but on Bandcamp whilst listening to Mare Cognitum (see last post).

Hailing from Stuttgart, Germany the 5 piece band Schattenbrandung are a black/doom metal act that were formed in 2009 and have one release under their belts, the snappy titled I-Apophanie from this year.

Over 6 tracks this band explore a large range of styles and variety within the black/doom metal tag. The songwriting is very strong, the musicianship is very tight and the production is excellent. The standout track for me is 'VII' the sixth track which closes the album. Over the 16 minute finale, Schattenbrandung pull out all the stops and show off their talent as the songs flows from blastbeats, mid tempo bm, slow doom to an acoustic section which melds into an Enslaved-style guitar solo that merges into the sound of a thunder clap and falling rain leaving you wanting to hear the whole damn album again.

teaser for I-Apophanie by Schattenbrandung

Definitely an album and band to check out for fans of Enslaved, Cult of Luna and just plain damn good metal. Buy the album and t-shirt at the link below and support this great band.

http://schattenbrandung.bandcamp.com/

Random Musings

 Once again the 'random band' button has been pressed and it takes us from Falmouth in Cornwall all the way over to Dartmoor, South Devon!

The Wounded Kings were formed in 2005 and were originally a four piece doom metal band plying their listeners with heavy, heavy, slow riffs; ominous vocals and a sense of foreboding and dread. After members had left to pursue other careers or start families, founding member Steve Mills formed a new line up and kept the old name. The Wounded Kings are now a five piece group, the heavy, heavy riffs are still their, the dread and foreboding are still present as well but now they've added a female singer (Sharie Neyland) to the fold.
Whereas before they had a Sabbath/Electric Wizard feel to them (and original singer George Birch had a Bauhaus/Sisters of Mercy/80's Goth style to his voice) the female vocals add a more 'sinister' feel to the excellent music. The Wounded Kings' music conjures up (in my mind) the old, classic Hammer Horror films of the 60's and 70's and images of Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Ian Ogilvy and half naked, nubile young ladies (which is never a bad thing in my opinion!)

I do love doom music. Slow, heavy riffs, the slower-than-walking-pace tempo, the despair in the vocals, the lyrics, the whole atmosphere it conjures up. The Wounded Kings, for me, are an excellent example of doom and with new albums by Pilgrim, Pallbearer and Anguish to delight us then surely this is what the Mayans where on about when they talked of 2012 being the year of doom!

Their latest album, 'In The Chapel Of The Black Hand' is available on I Hate Records and the bands website/facebook page and is a must for fans of slow, doom metal.

The Wounded Kings on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thewoundedkings2/music/songs?filter=POPULAR

The Wounded Kings on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wounded-Kings/225788354128336