“Solitude and Savagery” deserves serious attention and is undoubtedly one of the breakout releases of this year
“Solitude and Savagery” CD//DD track listing:
1. Enter the Hermitage 2. Black Mass 3. No Sleep 4. Beyond the Wall 5. Lifebreather 6. Reawaken 7. Laniakea
The Review:
Barbarian Hermithail from Manchesterand play crushing stoner/sludge/doom. This is a band that is not afraid to play aggressively- like High on Fire- but also slow; like any doom band worth their salt you can name. The opener, “Enter The Hermitage,” sets it out for you. Straight in, no messing about, just some huge and fuzzy riffs with some maniac (Ed Campbell- who showcases serious versatility elsewhere!) shouting over the top.
There is plenty of variety here, too. There are passages of more thoughtful and melancholy music, both in the first and second track and beyond. There is quite some range on display. Suffice it to say, that by track two (“Black Mass”) I was absolutely sold on this album. This is what is needed in the underground and beyond at the moment- a band sounding not like anyone else, but featuring the best elements of quite a few bands. There is something here for fans of many different bands and sub genres. You like Orange Goblin? Try these guys out. You like High on Fire, ditto. In fact, from Sabbath to The Sword and from Conanto Candlemass: Barbarian Hermit may just appeal to fans of all those bands.
There are shades of the likes of Raging Speedhorn and The Rotted in “No Sleep” (and Motorhead, of course) while the epic might of “Beyond The Wall” is crushingly powerful with a fantastic solo. Nothing outstays its welcome here; there are no short songs and most tracks stretch out over six minutes plus (the closing “Laniaka” is eleven epic minutes!) but it all feels like it flies by at a clip. The band's approach makes this happen; each track is different and brings a slightly different approach, while remaining consistent in vibe and feel. It's no small trick to pull off but the band achieve it with ease. This is a proper album and I think one that might become very influential going forward.
This is not simple two chord/two piece sludge and nor is it just Sleepworship or a cheap copy of any other band. The production, courtesy of the effervescent Chris Fielding at Skyhammer studio is immense and as usual Chris has achieved a crushing drum, guitar and bass sound. The clarity of the mix and the sheer weight adds a good deal of muscle to the album and, having worked with Chris myself, I can hear his audio-stamp of authenticity throughout the record.
The album is just as weighty down the stretch- “Reawaken” features a riff that Iommi would be proud of and some guitar work that Mastodon might find a home for on any of their better work. “Life Breather” before it is versatile and deft in its mood swings. The aforementioned “Laniaka” is eleven minutes of schizophrenic and groovesome riffage. It's a tour de force ending to one of the best albums I have heard in 2018.
Barbarian Hermithave it; that intangible factor that makes this album like lightning in a bottle. “Solitude and Savagery” deserves serious attention and is undoubtedly one of the breakout releases of this year. These guys could really fly the flag for the UKunderground and reach the heights of Conan; as a singular band operating in a field of one. They'll spawn imitators, sure, but I know the real deal when I hear it. Superb.
Since their emergence in 2017, APF Records have set out to support the very best bands from the UK’s thriving underground doom scene.Home to the likes of Ba'al, Battalions, Blind Haze, BongCauldron, Desert Storm, Diesel King, Mastiff, Nomad, Pist, RedEye Revival, The Hyena Kill, The Wizards Of Delight, Tronald, Under and Trevor's Head, label head Andrew Field exudes a sense of family within his ranks and is supporting bands that he himself enjoys.In essence APF Records is about a love of music and is a platform for them to help nurture bands they enjoy.
With around 16 releases to their name in an 18 month period, that is no small achievement, what’s more the standard of music has been extraordinarily high and that is set to continue on 16th November and the release of “Solitude and Savagery” the debut album by Barbarian Hermit, a Manchester sludge five piece known for giving it some bastard and bringing the thick, Northern gravy. Today we have been tasked by wonderful people at Hold Tight PR and APF Records to present the brand new video for the track “Black Mass” which you check out below.But first check out what the band had to say about the track.
Introducing ‘Black Mass’, the second single from our forthcoming album, “Solitude and Savagery”. The track is a twisting, turning sonic assault that meanders through passages of tripped out psychedelia, pure Sabbath worship, thrash and trademark Hermitheavy groove, so it’s fitting that the video that goes along with the song is just as disorienting.
It was actually our old singer Si Prato-Scarlett that approached us to do the video, as since he parted ways with the band he’s been dabbling in film production, whilst also remaining a friend and supporter of Barbarian Hermit. He'd already done the video for “Widowmaker” back in the day so we knew he'd do a fantastic job, but he really knocked it out of the park with this one.
We filmed it over a few days at our practice studio at BrunswickMill in Manchester, which is full of eerie corridors and weird and wonderful trinkets, which lent themselves perfectly for the dreamlike atmosphere that Si wanted to create.
Ed’s lyrics for the song were inspired by a dream/nightmare/vision he had of a dark figure, a black mass that hovered before him, filling him with fear. The song is about facing those fears head on and letting hope guide your way, though much like the imagery that Si has thrown into the video, the lyrics are very much open to the listener’s own interpretation.
"Solitude & Savagery" is set for release on 16/11/2018 via APF Records and orders are being taken link: HERE and you check out the video to “Black Mass”exclusively below
Live Rituals
November 10th – Cvltfest, Café Independent, Scunthorpe
November 16th – Album Lunch, Kosmopolitan, Manchester November 17th – Ale Fest, Northern Monk Brewery, Leeds December 22nd – Rebellion Christmas Party, Rebellion, Manchester
Through six full-lengths and a number of live releases and EPs, HIGH ONFIRE are an unmistakable force in the realm of heavy metal, influencing many and attracting hordes of avid followers, some of which include many of the UK’s fast rising doom scene. Today we have invited a number of them to choose their favourite tracks from a band that has inspired others and attracted adulation from many more.Check out their choices below.HIGH ON FIRE are touring the UK in support of their new album 'Electric Messiah',
The art work for this album struck me immediately. Rotoscoped image of a warrior, pure animated Bakshi Lord of The Rings. Matt’s guitar tone, pure Matamp soupiness. Des’s drums like aeons of a mountain forming, compressed into hammer fall precision. This song is High on Fire a top a mountain, slaying hordes of undead, impossible levels of gore and blood streaming down their armour. TOTAL CARNAGE.
I was late to the party when discovering High on Fire (from now on to be written HOF) as my first taste of them was when I bought a copy of 2007’s “Death Is This Communion.” My sole reason for buying was based purely upon finding out that it was Matt Pike from Sleep’s other band. I was lucky enough to get a copy that had a ‘making of’ DVD. Watching the DVD and then listening to the record was enough to sell me. Riffs aside, I find myself attracted to the critical religious, conspiracy and fantastical theme of the song titles and lyrics. Being a fantasy and Sci-Fi fan, I loved the fantastical themed artwork and I’ve always imagined HOF as the Motorheadfor Tolkien fans.
My ‘Favourite’ track is, unsurprisingly, from “Death Is This Communion”. It’s the instrumental track “DII”. There’s a part in the making of DVD where you see HOF in the studio creating this song and I think this is a part of the reason as to why I enjoy it. It also it’s great because it has a great heavy riff, melodic solo and a great synth part that plays over the end of a track creating a great otherworldly sound. The tone, mood and vibe on this whole record is great and I think this song captures the feel of this record perfectly. Great instrumental track and an amazing record.
Love this tune due to its pure brutality and atmosphere it creates. Plus, epic PHAT bass. HOF’s use of fast power chord movement has certainly rubbed off on us somewhere. When I saw this band live about 12 years ago I was so high yet they totally destroyed my buzz by being so fucking brutal. I then got a boner instead, maybe it was because of Matt being topless… Don’t think I’ve ever had a weed boner before.
“Snakes for the Divine”is a song that for me is the essence of Matt Pike boiled down into eight and a half minutes of glorious riffery. It has quite possibly one of the best intros to a metal song of all time. When I hear those first chords ring out with that epic lick over the top I can’t help of that brilliant Pike quote from Such Hawks Such Hounds about heavy being about “pissed off and being a warlord.” You know you're about to be punched in the face with the riff to follow. This is warlording at its finest and you can just picture Pike taking his axe into battle. It’s one of those songs that makes you just wanna get loose in the same way that The Stooges’ Search and Destroy does. Raw fuckin power!!
I bought this album whilst stranded in Europe in 2010 when all flights were cancelled because of the ash cloud from the erupting volcano in Iceland and I ended up playing it on repeat due to it being the only cd I had with me for the hotel's cd player. I like the softness of the verses. Something High on Fire don't do much of is go soft but when they do they nail it, & this makes the heavy riff seem even heavier when it comes in. This track stands out for me because of the slower tempo compared to most of the other tracks on the album. I’d say its a good album to be stranded somewhere with.
The title track of High on Fire's fifth album was the first that really caught my attention and for that reason it will always be a stand out track for me. I was a fan of Sleep and had heard the name HOF but when the album received such critical acclaim in the press I decided to check the album out, and from the off you're greeted by this monster.
As soon as the epic, Maiden-on-steroids intro kicks in you're hooked in and dragged along for the ride as Pike and co blast through gritty thrash and thunderous groove territories. The guitar riffs and bass lines weave in and out of one another like the eponymous snakes in the title.
You'll definitely hear the influence of this and other Hire on Firetracks like it on our new album “Solitude and Savagery”, especially on songs like “Reawaken”.
Hi, you wanna know about us?
