ALBUM REVIEW: Apostle of Solitude, "From Gold To Ash"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 23/02/2018

Label: Cruz Del Sur Music

“From Gold To Ash” is heavy as lead and in places just as toxic, guitars are like slabs of unyielding concrete, with the bulk of the album as dark as the blackest pitch in tone and content.  From opening instrumental “Overlord” to the closing “Grey Farewell”, Apostle of Solitude stake their claim for having recorded the best doom release of 2018.”

“From Gold To Ash” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Overlord

2). Ruination Be Thy Name

3). Autumn Moon

4). Keeping The Lighthouse

5). My Heart is Leaving Here

6). Monochrome (discontent)

7). Grey Farewell

The Review:

Indiana has produced some of the best metal ever in the form of The Gates of Slumber, and Apostle of Solitude continue in that fine doom tradition. Chuck Brown, the original drummer for TGOSfeatures on guitar and vocals, keeping a nice link to the Indianapolis doom scene. This is a rumbling, raw, traditional slab of doom metal. From opening instrumental “Overlord” to the closing “Grey Farewell”, the band stake their claim for having recorded the best trad doom release of 2018.

It's heavy as lead and in places just as toxic- “Ruination Be Thy Name” is as dark as they come. There are moments of sweetness in the interlude “Autumn Moon”, but the bulk of the album is as dark as the blackest pitch in tone and content. The guitars are like slabs of unyielding concrete and bassist Mike Naish's bass sound and playing come from a man who has hands thick with muscle. Most full length songs here are well north of the six minute mark, with “Keeping The Lighthouse” being concise at 6.23, but the likes of “My Heart Is Leaving Here” clock up close to ten minutes of playing time.

With that in mind, this is not an album for the casual doom fan; this is surely for the faithful, the aficionado- the dedicated. There is a traditional heavy metal influence here in places, both within the vocal melodies and even the riffs (just a lot slower) but really this is true doom all the way. “Monochrome (Discontent)” is a fine example- speed it up and it becomes something akin to Angel Witch. By the time of “Grey Farewell”, the mood of the album- that of grey skies, cold days and unending despairing regrets- has firmly taken hold. This is not for the faint of heart and is instead for the bravest among the doom warriors out there. It's also a brilliant record; deep and dark.

“From Gold To Ash” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Arduini / Balich - "Dawn of Ages"

By: Richard King 

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 24/02/2017

Label: Cruz Del Sur Music

“Dawn Of Ages” is a classic fusion of perfect doom and progressive metal. The music makes an immediate and impressive connection in your mind which boldly declares that metal mastery is at hand and that two genres are blending seamlessly together.

 “Dawn Of Ages” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. The Fallen

2. Forever Fade

3. Into Exile

4. The Wraith

5. Beyond the Barricade

6. The Gates of Acheron

7. Sunrise (Uriah Heep cover)

8. Wolf of Velvet Fortune (Beau Brummels cover)

9. After All (The Dead) (Black Sabbath cover)

The Review:

This album is the culmination of the efforts of FATES WARNING’S co-founder Victor Arduini and heavy doom legends ARGUS’ Butch Balich. In late 2013 Arduini decided to push his musical boundaries in another direction and later recruited fellow FREEDOMS REIGN musician Chris Judge to drum for what would become Arduini / Balich. Arduini was in need of a vocalist when he’d met Butch Balich, who had played shows with him.

The resulting effort in “Dawn Of Ages” is a classic fusion of perfect doom and progressive metal. The music makes an immediate and impressive connection in your mind which boldly declares that metal mastery is at hand and that two genres are blending seamlessly together. These ideas are apparent from the album’s opening minutes.

Until the record’s sixth track the album unfolds throughout songs which top the ten minute mark yet never bore or meander in the slightest. It’s clear that Arduini and company have a great deal to say musically and this venting is a thing that can be not only easily understood but greatly appreciated.  Balich’s powerful singing blends easily with Arduini’s epic guitar work in innovative ways, creating a melodically compelling and adventurous sonic picture. The unity of both genres in this work exist beyond the idea of being portioned out here and there, with only some parts sounding doomed while certain other parts launch into progressive territories. The entirety of the record is a timeless fusion of both aspects.

There is something very special in particular about “Beyond The Barricade,” the album’s fifth track. It’s the longest of a fantastic lot at seventeen plus minutes, but the way it blasts through musical motions is remarkable for its variety. Without lapsing obviously into genre blending, the track manages to convey both power metal progressions and art rock riffs in one long, doomed spectacle.

In the vinyl version of this album, which is well worth getting, you’ll be able to catch three awesome cover songs, being “After All (The Dead)”, Beau Brummel’s “Wolf Of Fortune” and Uriah Heep’s “Sunrise” which is powerful enough to be held to the original.  I think it’s in “Sunrise” that ARDUINI/BALICH begin to reach an event-making creative apex. Balich’s vocals are perfect for this cover and the organ work in this is stunning. With “Wolf Of Fortune” and in their Black Sabbath cover, they bring the purest manifestation of power doom I can imagine. In fact, the entirety of the covers portion of this record is a great indication of just where this band may go; a person could really hope to hear more in these particular classic veins from them. Regardless, the templates established by these metal veterans in their first six songs on this debut are well more than enough to build on and leave a listener very satisfied by its conclusion.

"Dawn Of Ages" is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook