ALBUM REVIEW: Amygdala – Burning Gloom
For those interested in the versatility in a band to reinvent and re-imagine themselves, BURNING GLOOM are the reincarnation of MY HOME ON TREES, as the band decided to follow a more doom and sludge style of music. Their latest album Amygdala incorporates the desert rock and blues that the four piece sparked their careers with, but builds into a very different beast.
The Tower I takes no time introducing itself to your ears as massive, old school drums feel LED ZEPPELIN-esque and thundering guitars rage gutturally. There’s instantly a classic sound here, with reverberated vocals distant in the mix, giving a real raw and live feel. Smooth riffs belch over rhythms, and before you know, the swift starter morphs into a much more psychedelic trip in the levelled up, The Tower II. Things seem to both speed up and slow down, with a fixated drum snapping giving more urgency and yet the plod of the bass seems focused and methodical. It’s a brilliant step into a much darker area of BURNING GLOOM’s sound, vocals screeching now, the very femininity of it bursting in the most ferocious and dangerous manner over such raucous music.
Eremite is much more tempered and grounded. That natural sound remains, with ethereal vocals over washy delays. Before the main bulk of the track kicks in, you’re given enough time to ease into the feel before the simmering rage inflames the riffs. There’s a definite edge towards BURNING GLOOM’s more doomy side here, keeping things low and moody. There’s an ambient, repetitive guitar section that might build tension for some, or loose momentum for others. What comes on the other side is still a stomping good time, however.
Maintaining a menacing demeanour, Modern Prometheus continues to punch hard, adding interesting otherworldly hums over the thick, fuzzy guitars. BURNING MAN carry you through this strange landscape, crafting moments of spine-tingling menace that have your hairs standing on end. While this is a much-evolved sound, there’s something akin to BLACK SABBATH, more in it’s effect on you than perhaps in overall sound. It’s captivating, primal and ominous.
Nightmares (feat. Mona Miluski of HIGH FIGHTER) is much more frantic in its delivery, with the help of more vocals to push the atmosphere. Shifting from whispers over a constant melody, in itself totally bewitching, to a mountain of sound and rawer more hysterical vocal delivery. The dynamic of the drums really lends itself to this devilishly good track, warm skin and hollow symbols bringing more pulsing craziness to the sound than anything else.
Starting with a simple, slow chord progression with some tonal symbols for embellishment, as the heart of the drums stirs and accompanies, Warden finds itself awoken. The beat and the melody intertwine themselves, becoming more complicated and psychedelic. The guitars bring and mellow, the beat tranquil yet hypnotising, you’ll be stirred from your pleasant head bopping to find yourself swaying utterly compelled by the rise in guitars and the rousing of the bass. BURNING GLOOM manages to command the track with such prowess that you’ll be amazed how quickly it’s almost eight minutes flies by. The final few minutes where the bass really takes centre stage are sublime and well worth listening through for.
Beyond The Wall is a much more haunting affair than it’s predecessor. Back to the sludge grooves, as beat after beat marries with punching note after punching note of the strings. The whole track seems to be making its slow progression further into your head, walking with mall intent into your mind and you’ve very waking soul. As is expected from BURNING GLOOM, this small movement turns into a full-frontal assault, galloping where it once stomped, and crushing you beneath it.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is the finale ethereal movement of this record. it continues to take its time to build, and this time there’s no holding back. The vocals are stronger than ever, beautiful and brutal. The wall of sound that crashes around you is sublime and surreal, the quieter moments more akin to a blues sound of the band’s older sound. In any rendition, it’s all gorgeous work that really captivates even to the last song.
BURNING GLOOM have achieved a doomier sound with Amygdala, and it’s such a relief to see a band refocus and follow a path to it’s fullest potential. Creatively satisfying and musically engaging, this is sludge, blues and doom all wrapped up in a sound that feels classic yet revitalised with new ideas.
Rating: 8/10
Amygdala is released on the 14th of June via Argonauta Records.
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