ALBUM REVIEW: Empires of Stone – Stone Nomads
A power trio hailing from Houston, Texas. STONE NOMADS have curated a formidable sound. Characterised by pummelling riffs and rhythms. Showcasing the outright heaviness of doom and sludge. Yet they intertwin a progressive edge and a blues-tinged swagger that creates an altogether more expansive sound. Previous releases have seen them earn widespread critical acclaim as well as see the three-piece share the stage with genre giants such as CROWBAR, SOULFLY and KHEMMIS. With album three featuring a resolute wall of sound backing up themes of grief and loss. STONE NOMADS look set to cement their credentials as a vital part of the international doom scene.
With very little in the way subtly, save for a brief acoustic interlude at the get go, Empires of Stone kicks off with a crushing fury. Guitars are relentless, drums dominant and the swirling music hits with an instant impact. Lost In the Storm offers an intense introduction. However, it’s not an impenetrable cacophony. Every element is working to enhance the next step. Layers of textures create compelling harmonies in both the instruments and vocals and it’s nigh on impossible not to get swept up in this crashing wave of passionate doom.
At every turn, this is an album that looks to ensnare the audio sense. Either through brute force of riff driven power with the rhythm section providing an indelible beat that cannot be shaken. Or in some cases, the music shifts to something else entirely offering a glimmer of delicate songcraft behind the wall. The former aspect can be found in abundance, the title track alone ebbs and flows through offering intoxicating riffs and catchy as hell melodies all supported by irresistible rhythms. Yet when they want to, STONE NOMADS can shift gears on the likes of Desolate Sands. Shifting the dynamic completely and creating an almost wistful soundscape, which is just as effective at captivating the listener. It’s expansive and progressive yet still unified by the seismic power that is the foundation of STONE NOMADS style.
With exceptional musicianship behind the songwriting, it’s hard to believe that this is just a three-piece generating this level of force. However, the mix serves every note to perfection. Elevating the textures without muddying the instrumentation, highlighting the dynamic changes without being jarring and overall tying the compositions together to create a truly unforgettable album that reverberates in the skull of all those that hear it. When the band inject some blues laced swagger into closing track The Devil Lives in Texas, the mix propels this added element to the for but enables everything to work together to ensure it remains undeniably STONE NOMADS.
Empires of Stone delivers an uncompromising style, the sound feeling as impactful as a menhir. Stark and monolithic but utterly engaging from start to finish. STONE NOMADS make music of powerful weight yet it is also very accessible and enrapture for any enjoyer of heavy metal. What they’ve been able to blend within the riff centric doom structures is a lilt of Texan strut. Which serves the music and overall creates an album or outstanding proportions.
Rating: 9/10
Empires of Stone is set for release November 21st via Ripple Music.
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