ALBUM REVIEW: Songs From The Free House – Smote
It’s rare to get something actually different these days. In a time when so many genres mesh, cross over and so many bands fit as many genres into their music as they can to appease the average music listener, SMOTE have actually created something most other bands don’t go near. With a level of drone that only the likes of SUNN O))) or YEAR OF NO LIGHT tend to hit, they manage to fuse this into something still fairly unique and different from so many other progressive or experimental artists.
They manage to fuse something so light as a flute into a sound that could only really be described as ominous, alongside an almost penetrating sense of anxiety, superbly showcased in mid release track Snodgerss. While that flute is in and out at different points of the album, alongside ritualistic style vocals, it feels almost like the soundtrack to some kind of medieval or Pagan ceremony, perhaps some kind of suspense-riddled horror. The mix of male and female vocals being buried so far into the mix puts the perfect emphasis on the music, the whole, rather than just vocals too, in a style that too few bands seem to do when trying to create something close to this release.
While that sound of near future ominous ruin always feels so close and claustrophobic, the Gregorian monastic incantations of vocals for The Linton Worm, as can be heard on the above link, feel quite different to the flute that replaces vocals in the opening track and third track Snodgerss. The track almost feels like a medieval interlude, akin to some kind of Pagan ceremony and something that adds genuine depth into the release. While different, that constant sense of closeness that permeates the music does still leave you with a full sense of whole through the five tracks.
The production is just about right, though even for a seasoned doom listener it sometimes gets a touch much on a couple of occasions, where it blurs just slightly the wrong side of the line. This comes across much better in the actual downloaded files themselves than it does via some online sources, where perhaps their own filters do the music a disservice.
As a full piece, it is an excellent release. While it is not designed for easy listening, there is real depth and an unspoken sense of storytelling in the way the music has been so beautifully arranged. It is much more an in depth piece of art than just listening to the singles may lead you to believe. It’s very much worth the 42 minutes the release will take up of your time, as it will give plenty back more as you replay it to fully take in everything in play.
Rating: 8/10
Songs From The Free House is out now via Rocket Recordings.
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