REVIEW: Kurokuma, "Dope Rider" EP

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 30/07/2018

Label: Doom Stew Records

Kurokuma prove once again, that trends in heavy music never last, but creating something unique and personal within the boundaries of heavy music, undoubtedly will.

“Dope Rider” CD//CS//DD//LP track listing:

1). Dope Rider Part 1

2). Dope Rider Part 2

The Review:

I'm always drawn towards bands that tread their own path, so it's rather fitting that I get to review the phenomenal Kurokuma's latest EP, 'Dope Rider'. While the concept maybe based on a comic strip from marijuana themed publication High Times, fans of traditional stoner will be shocked at the lack of copy and paste pentatonic riffs and banshee wails.

Part one of this 2 part release teases the eardrums with Joe E. Allen's always hypnotic, tribal drumming while feedback and droning guitars build slowly. The verse riff is superb showing just how unique the band are in their approach to song writing and riff crafting. Driven by Allen's drumming, vocals are traded back and forth between guitarist Jacob Mazlum and bassist George Ionita to accentuate the rhythmic flow and as the track draws to its natural conclusion, awash with gritty psychedelic textures, it's Allen's use of the mighty cowbell that closes.

Part Two starts off meatier than a caveman barbecue with devastating, muted riffs amid drumming that seems off kilter but is nevertheless absolutely on point. The tremolo riffing caught me off guard and had me gurning and nodding in definite approval. By the time the most accessible closing riff bleeds out to some droning, notes, listeners will want to press play all over again. At least I did...about 6 times...

Kurokuma prove once again, that trends in heavy music never last, but creating something unique and personal within the boundaries of heavy music, undoubtedly will.

“Dope Rider” is available digital here. Cassette and CD available at www.doomstew.com/store/. Vinyl coming September 2018. 

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook