THE SHOGUN'S DECAPITATOR - 'Head Hunting' CD review

THE SHOGUN'S DECAPITATOR - 'Head Hunting' CD review

"THE SHOGUN'S DECAPITATOR is a band featuring members of other local bands such as OPIUM LORD, MOTHERTRUCKER, and THE HUBBLE CONSTANT, and where those other bands respectively bring the doom, the riffs, and the... science, TSD bring the FUNK. Throughout these nine instrumental tracks, most (if not all) of which appear to be named after local pubs and clubs of past and present, you'll find some seriously smooth yet booming bass grooves and licks alongside sublime rocking riffs and guitar chords picked and strummed in some of the most creative hooks and rhythms that I've heard in a long time, all driven by pounding yet technically considered percussionary magic (of which the intro to 'Exclusives' is particularly majestic). Dance beats, technical and funky dual guitar play that harmonises beautifully, stop / start song structures that I defy you to not want to move to, and a rock undertone, all culminate to form a somewhat 90s influenced sound that is both danceable and rocking. Check out opener 'Foley Arms Foley Arms', or I particularly like 'Picture House', especially that time change at the beginning, and 'Retreat'. Cool, now let's party."

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xox

OPIUM LORD - 'The Calendrical Cycle: Eye of Earth' review

OPIUM LORD - 'The Calendrical Cycle: Eye of Earth' review

"So Stourbridge doom fiends OPIUM LORD are back with their debut album and follow up to their two track 'Prologue: The Healer'', and right from the opener 'Challenger', we're plunged into the dark and murky depths of crushing riffs, grimey bass, unsettlingly eerie delayed lead guitar, and pounding drums, conjuring comparisons to stuff like MORBID ANGEL or even a doomier ZAO or FALL OF EFRAFA. Vocals are still pretty varied, ranging from harsh, throaty, lizardy screams, to deeper, guttural roars and shouts, spitting out some pretty hellish lyricism. The local Temple of Boom has done a fab job on the recording and mixing, because this is as heavy as anything, and thanks to Dave Mitson's mastering it sounds punishingly huge. Favourite tune for me besides 'Challenger' would have to be 'Crystals' for the great chord progressions, but this is really consistent stuff across the seven tracks, with perpetually colossal riffs, unsettling leads, crushing drum work, and harrowing vocals throughout the predominantly sludgey rhythms. Awesome work, highly recommended for those that like their music crafted in the blackest of forges in the deepest of pits. Beautiful photographic artwork too."