Moloken - Unveilance Of Dark Matter

Labels: The Sign Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 31 Jan 2020

Tracklist:

1. This Love Is A Curse

2. Surcease

3. Shadowcastle (Pt. 1)

4. No Ease, No Rest

5. Hollow Caress

6. Venom Love

7. Repressed

8. Lingering Demise

9. Unbearable

10. One Last Breath

11. Unveilance Of Dark Matter

Finally my review schedule is back on track, even if my inbox isn't! With the lockdown still in place in the UK (albeit with some slightly relaxed rules), I wanted to spend this balmy evening losing myself in some more heaviness, this time from Sweden. Moloken released their fourth full-length Unveilance Of Dark Matter in January via The Sign Records. They've been playing atmospheric and progressive metal/sludge for over a decade and have release two EPs alongside their full-length albums over that period. As they prepare for a full live performance of the record on May 23rd, you can prepare yourselves by giving it a listen.

Moloken has been a name that I’ve been familiar with for a while, but whose music has always flown under the radar slightly. The quartet opens album number four with ‘This Love Is A Curse’ and it’s a precursor of sorts. It’s mainly instrumental, save for the final thirty seconds, where the vocals kick in and pull you into the band’s angular extremity. ‘Surcease’ is a different beast. The tempo is faster and the atmosphere is darker. It’s a mix of many different musical elements, from sludge, to death metal, to unnerving post-hardcore and it’s certainly got plenty of metallic chops.

You’ll find that as Moloken’s songs get longer, they become more progressive. ‘Shadowcastle (Pt. 1)’ is a case in point. It reminds you of Leviathan-era Mastodon and it gives a proper glimpse of what the band is capable of when they stretch out their songs. That progression and momentum is broken up by the piano-led interlude of ‘No Ease, No Rest’, which is still dramatic enough to hold your attention as it fades to reveal ‘Hollow Curses’, with it’s blackened hardcore-like riffs and low growls. The Sign Records has become a reliable stable for hard-rock and metal that sits at the traditional end of the spectrum, so Moloken is a different prospect for the label’s followers.

Their sludgy side comes out on ‘Venom Love’ thanks to some subtly NOLA-inspired vocals. That said, it’s still a technical song that brims with post-metal atmosphere. It’s a lot more instrumental-led this time but that’s no bad thing, especially when it’s delivered by a band that are this good. Talking of post-metal (again), ‘Repressed” features a riff plucked out of the top draw. It reminds me of Scottish (short-lived) post-metal/doom band Voe, if any of you remember them. It’s a very short little interlude but it’s ideally placed here. 

‘Repressed’ blends into the striking ‘Lingering Demise’ very easily indeed. I wasn’t expecting this kind of breadth from Moloken, but when they do flex their muscles during longer songs, they’re a joy to listen to. Again, there are notable glances to some of the more well known bands in the genre, but with metal constantly evolving and revolving, it’s no surprise. To go from ‘Lingering Demise’ to the black metal rasps of ‘Unbearable’ is a bit of a shock. I’m not sure it was Moloken’s intention to sound that way, but that’s how it comes across during the opening bars. From there it becomes a mash of death metal vox and prog/jazz instrumentation. It’s great!

There’s time for a final stirring interlude in ‘One Last Breath’, which is aptly titled as it allows you to take yours before album closer and title track, ‘Unveilance Of Dark Matter’. This is your last chance to dance and Moloken make sure you remember it. This record flows in such a coherent way and goes by almost effortlessly. It contains enough truly emotive anger alongside a heap of great musicianship, which really brings it to life. We’re already nearly five months deep into 2020 and with January still serving up albums like this, the expectations for the rest of the year are great.

You can stream and purchase 'Unveilance Of Dark Matter' on all formats via Moloken's Bandcamp page here:-

Moloken - https://www.facebook.com/Molokenofficial/

You can also grab copies from The Sign Records here - https://freighttrain.se/en/the-sign-record/

The Sign Records - https://www.facebook.com/thesignrecords/

Snake Tongue - No Escape No Excuse EP

Labels: The Sign Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 15 Feb 2019

Tracklist:

1. Corrupted Beat

2. Dystopian Slumber

3. Derailed

4. The Hammer & The Nail

This is more than likely going to be the only review I can write before this coming Saturday, which sucks I know. This is the latest EP from Swedish hardcore band Snake Tongue. "No Escape No Excuse" was officially released last Friday via The Sign Records. I think it's the first hardcore release to come form the label (but please correct me if I'm wrong on that). It's now available digitally and on 7" vinyl.

This is proper driving hardcore and Snake Tongue doesn’t mess about. Corrupted Beat is furious, from the riffs and the drumming through to the hoarse screams. There’s technicality and a lot of metal influence in there as well, with melody showing through during the latter half of the EP opener. They layer their music with atmosphere and at times there’s a definite nod towards metalcore (when it was good) on Dystopian Slumber. The sense of urgency remains and so does the anger. It’s a sound that I’ve not heard from Sweden in a while. 

To clarify that last sentence above, this EP sounds very much European as opposed to just being an American copy-cat job. Derailed is its fastest song and its raging. Nothing else need be said about it. EP closer The Hammer & The Nail is the kind of crossover song that bridges the gap between hardcore and metal without trying. During the opener verse it sounds orchestral/melodic before the band launches into something a lot heavier. It’s 2019 and while the musical landscape is constantly shifting and mutating, Snake Tongue sound oddly fresh, to these ears at least. This EP may be short but it’s damn sweet!

You can stream and purchase "No Escape No Excuse" digitally below:-

7" vinyl copies can be purchased here - https://freighttrain.se/en/the-sign-record/snake-tongue/

Snake Tongue - https://www.facebook.com/snaketongueofficial/

The Sign Records - https://www.facebook.com/thesignrecords/

Hallas - Excerpts From A Future Past

Labels: The Sign Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 13 Oct 2017

Tracklist:

1. The Astral Seer

2. Repentance

3. Nebulon's Tower

4. The Golden City Of Semyra

5. Star Rider

6. Shadow Of The Templar

7. Illusion Sky

I've felt the need tonight to delve into something different and less abrasive. Swedish 70's hard-rock worshippers Hallas and their debut full-length from 2017 should do nicely. Release on Swedish retro/hard-rock/heavy metal label The Sign Records, it follows their 2015 self-titled EP. They're about to head out to support Graveyard on their Scandinavian tour, so they're keeping very esteemed company. 

There’s nothing wrong with venturing into territory that’s easier on the ears from time to time. Retro rock (as some like to call it) is really growing thanks to a huge number of bands from across the globe, with Scandinavia very much at it’s forefront. Hallas is a band that’s gathering more momentum and it’s easy to see (and hear) why as album opener The Astral Seer brims with progression. keyboard flourishes and clean singing that hasn’t been affected by the usual Americanisation. It’s all very natural sounding and true to heart.

With Repentance, Hallas increase the length of their instrumental passages and layers, enhancing their music with subtle psychedelia, while vocalist/bassist Tommy Alexandersson sounds akin to Sting during his days in The Police when he reaches the higher registers. Nebulon’s Tower is an engrossing instrumental piece that highlights the folk-elements within their sound. “Excerpts From A Future Past” is very much an album for people who genuinely like music. There’s so much musicality present on songs like The Golden City Of Semyra that it’s so easy to get sucked in to it all. Again, the band’s progression is present as well a tempered but meatier percussion element, which give the music extra bite. 

Nicklas Malmqvist’s keyboard work that opens Star Rider is ridiculous, as it breezes through the scales from low to high. This is a super catchy song with some nice pop-like melodies and crunching guitars. I’m not afraid to say that It’s got me feeling quire sleepy in a cosy sort of way. Before you know it (or if you’re in a completely blissful trance), penultimate song Shadow Of The Templar is whisking you off on a journey into the star-filled night sky of the album’s cover. There’s a slight cosmic feel to it all and an upbeat one at that. The album’s final song Illusion Sky is a slower and more melodramatic song. Ultimately, it sums up the Hallas signature sound perfectly and rounds out a record that’s definitely worth more dues than it’s received so far. There are times when a different perspective is needed and this record gives you that without being showy or obtuse. Fantastic.

You can stream and download "Excerpts From A Future Past" via The Sign Records here:-

Hallas - https://www.facebook.com/haellas/

Physical copies are still available to purchase here - https://freighttrain.se/en/the-sign-record/

The Sign Records - https://www.facebook.com/thesignrecords/

Demon Head - The Resistance 7"

Labels: The Sign Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 20 Apr 2018

Tracklist:-

1. The Resistance

2. Rivers Of Mars

This week is looking like it's going to be a busy one, so I've managed to steal some time this evening to have a sneaky listen to something that's due out in April. This is the latest 7" from Danish "Diabolic rock" band Demon Head. It's being released via The Sign Record on April 20th and it follows their full-length "Thunder On The Fields", which was released nearly twelve months ago. Demon Head plays a brand of rock/metal that's rooted in retro and psych, despite only being in existence since 2012.

There’s a lot of traditional heavy metal and doom that’s paying homage to the originators of the genre at the moment and I’m only really venturing into it for the first time. Demon Head are one band that’s capturing the essence of the 70s (and in some cases the 60s) to create a retro sound. The opening title-track to this 7” is quintessentially Scandinavian, with laid-back instrumentation and clean singing that brings to mind the likes of early-Reverend Bizarre and at times Black Sabbath. 

Where the title-track is actually pretty progressive, second song Rivers Of Mars is catchier and has an element of pop-sensibility nestling within it’s warming tones. Demon Head’s music is perfect for vinyl and this song encompasses that. It’s tempo and analog sound is infectious and the vocal melodies and guitar work are stellar, while the band’s intricacies disguise just how hummable it is. If you’re a fan of traditional heavy metal/doom that’s got charm and personality then Demon Head is a band you’re gonna want to pay close attention to.

You can stream the 7"s second song Rivers Of Mars below via Demon Head's bandcamp page:-

You can purchase a digital pre-order directly from their bandcamp page above, where you'll get one song now and the other when the 7" is officially released. 

Demon Head - https://www.facebook.com/Demoncoven/

Physical pre-orders have begun via The Sign Records here - http://freighttrain.se/sv/the-sign-record/

The Sign Records - https://www.facebook.com/thesignrecords/