« Reclaimed by the Forest«
2014
Imposing, Vulgar Mass of Canadian Sludge!
With the release of a new EYEHATEGOD album this year, Stoner fans will be chomping at the bit for other slower, syrupy dirges to misery and personal torment. Enter ALGOMA, an Ontario band that certainly plays “slow and furious” with Stoner Doom determination. Being the first album for the trio, “Reclaimed by the Forest” is set to compete with the “big boys”!
“Bedsores” opens the record with an excerpt from the film “Requiem for a Dream” before cascading into headbanging, agony-ridden minimalist doom that will keep fans gyrating in syncopated motion! “Fell Down a Well” continues the momentum as Kevin Campbell’s vocals are articulate but wracked with shouted pain. “Tertiary Syphilis” is a strong number starting with a bout of feedback and drum pattern only to be cut by the wall of sound. Here, Campbell’s voice takes a more tortured and twisted approach than usual which suits the music well and makes for a highlight!
What ALGOMA excel at are the “memorable riffs” that are heard on cuts, “Reclaimed by the Forest” and “Go On, Git” (beginning with a film excerpt from Tom Hanks classic, “The Burbs”). When strong chords and crashing drums are at the fore, the band sound “big”, but it’s the hummable notes and “faster” rhythms that really set ALGOMA apart. Finisher, “Extinct Volcanoes” takes a little while to get going, for example, repeating the same guitar arrangement but when those strained vocals come through, one takes immediate notice. The syrup continues to drip until from out of nowhere the song takes a left turn towards a real foot-stompin’ energy that slowly fades back to a slow crawl.
Ontario’s ALGOMA make a noticeable impression with their debut, “Reclaimed by the Forest” with aural strength and a heaping of Sludge. Although, what really stands out are the riff ideas that take the listener away from conventional Doom and drop them squarely into areas a bit more illuminating.
Standout Tracks: “Tertiary Syphilis”, “Go On, Git”
7/10
Chris
