I love me some down tempo, evil sounding music and Birmingham Doom band Opium Lord (which I think is a bloody brilliant name) have delivered just that. Clocking in at under 10 minutes long this two track EP combines elements of doom, metal and black metal to create a short but bleak (read decent) offering.
Opium Lord are in their infancy, they have only been together since December 2012 but have managed to create a worthy foundation with this release. Made up from the ashes of History of the Hawk (who I didn’t know had split until now) and Stinky Wizzleteat, Opium Lord are certainly on a different level from previous ventures.
<a href=“http://tdonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/opium-lord-the-calendrical-cycle-prologue-the-healer” data-mce-href=“http://tdonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/opium-lord-the-calendrical-cycle-prologue-the-healer”>Opium Lord – The Calendrical Cycle – Prologue: The Healer by TDON Records</a>
Their sound is nothing like the aggressive hardcore crossover sound of HOTH or the instrumental math-rock of Stinky. This project takes on a much darker persona as these two tracks act as a precursor for a further two releases which will collectively flow as one. They’ve been together a mere two months or so and this first release gives you a feel for the group and could technically be seen as a “demo” in that respect. If anything it is a taster of things to come; a progress report. If in two months their progress has hit this level, who knows what a few more months could produce?
‘The Calendrical Cycle – Prologue: The Healer’ starts off with the riff heavy ‘Street Labs’. The harsh vocals are black metal influenced with that controlled high roar that oozes evil intent. For an opening track it is somewhat straight forward, the riff is prominent throughout but the short breakdown in the middle although long, has a great guitar tone. The lead is subtle but adds something to the ambience of the track and the vocals influence really stands out.
‘Heroin Swirls’ opens with a pacing darkened riff which continues into the first verse. Another breakdown is slow in tempo with a mellow riff, and the vocals again are allowed to take charge. Dynamically the song is better than the previous one, the guitar tones again are brilliant throughout the bleaker parts. As the track builds up momentum, the chugging guitars replace the ambience and it paces for the final minute of the short release.
This is merely just a taster of things to come, it is impressive though that a band two months young have created a strong foundation and have grabbed the attention of TDON. Opium Lord have certainly interested me enough to hear more from them and I am looking forward to their progress.
3/5
‘The Calendrical Cycle – Prologue: The Healer’ by Opium Lord is out on March 11th on Thirty Days Of Night Records.
Opium Lord links: Facebook|Bandcamp
Words by Bert Maddison (@bertmaddison)
