ALBUM REVIEW: Symptom Of Failure – The Rhubarb
Channelling the dark mysticism of ELECTRIC WIZARD, the stoner hypnotism of SLEEP, and the psychedelic craziness of HAWKWIND, Glasgow’s THE RHUBARB have been making an impact with their blistering riffs, thunderous drums and dual vocals. Bringing together this unique blend of influences and adding their unique own twist, this Scottish quartet bring something refreshing to the genre. Since their inception in 2015, the band have shared the stage with many established artists within the scene, including the likes of BONGZILLA and ALUNAH. Now, after the success of their 2020 debut EP Black Sun, the band unleash their intoxicating and beautifully eerie debut album Symptom Of Failure.
One of the most intriguing features of the album and of THE RHUBARB’s sound overall is the prominent interplay between the male and female vocals. Going beyond the traditional backing vocal roles, both Sean Maguire (vocals) and Hannah White (vocals/bass) craft melodies and harmonies that weave into one another with an intriguing phrasing that adds to the eerie and trippy nature of the band’s music. White’s voice is ethereal, drifting gracefully over the chunky, stoner, ELECTRIC WIZARD-esque riffs, while Maguire’s nuanced tones have a soft earthiness. Together their voices feel like a conversation from another realm between two lost souls, and as a result Symptom Of Failure has a wonderfully gothic and haunting aura. THE RHUBARB also have a bountiful supply of huge riffs and fuzzing drone chords. You can feel the gravitational pull of the void get stronger with every weighty strike of Michael McConville’s guitar and Jack Donnelly’s pounding drums.
With the aforementioned influences in mind, Symptom Of Failure is a creatively dynamic and subtle album. THE RHUBARB have a natural ebb and flow that can only come from a significant chemistry between the band. As a result it influences their riffs and song structures in the best way possible. They know when to build momentum and intensity at exactly the right time and when to dial it down and bring in more nuanced atmospheric sections. This happens frequently throughout Symptom Of Failure and is executed so smoothly that you’d forget that this is only the band’s debut full-length. The songwriting shows a meticulously study of the genre and how to get the best out of it in their own image.
The overall vibe of the album is splendidly gothic, autumnal and eerie. Apparitions and phantoms materialise in your imagination as you wander through a variety of intriguing realms and plains of existence. THE RHUBARB have captured an ethereally witchy vibe and imbued it into each song with a magnificent intensity and psychedelic sensibility. Whilst the album does feel trippy, it’s trippy in the sense that there is something slightly uncanny about it, which makes the album ominous but exciting. Think of the introductory devil’s tritone on Black Sabbath by BLACK SABBATH and apply that haunting sound to an entire album. Also helping them achieve this effect are the waltzing sections of various songs. Not commonly heard, these add an extra layer of mystery and intrigue to the songs that makes you want to keep listening, wondering where this fateful dance will take you.
The album opens up with Mist, which establishes the tone for the album in glorious SABBATH-esque style. A slow dirge of a riff is accompanied by haunting vocal melodies. The song ramps up its energy with a thunderous stoner groove and is finished in a crushing flurry of powerful riffs. Forbidden starts off in a psychedelic manner, lulling you into a strange trance with its Arabian sounding melody. It gives way to a slowly swirling riff that entrances you as Maguire and White’s catchy yet sombre melodies wash over you. Awful Deed is a sinister sounding and foreboding song that capitalises on dense fuzz and hammering tom drum beats.
The Brines Effect is a dizzying song of spiralling riffs and soaring vocals that feel like a fever dream, while I Wanna Play A Game brings you out of this crazy spiral with a galloping rhythm reminiscent of traditional stoner songs. I Can’t Roll is a strangely sombre song that starts off full of energy before descending into an eerie atmospheric section that eventually blooms into all out doom. Trip To The South is a big, heavy and hulking three minutes of absolutely monolithic caveman stoner riffs while White’s vocals soar over the chaos unfolding beneath – it feels like a straight ride to hell from here. Mother’s Ruin is an eight-minute magnum opus full of gothic grandeur. Dramatic and haunting, it is the perfect way to close out the album.
Symptom Of Failure is sure to put THE RHUBARB on plenty of people’s radar because of their unique approach to stoner doom. This album is a brilliant debut that is enjoyable, intriguing and eerie in equal measure.
Rating: 8/10
Symptom Of Failure is set for release on March 24th via Milky Bomb Records.
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