Artist: Black Sleep Of Kali
Title: Our Slow Decay
Genre: Psychedelic / Stoner Metal
Release Date: 27th May 2011
Label: This Charming Man Records
Album Review
When one first starts hearing BLACK SLEEP OF KALI and their latest album, ‘Our Slow Decay’, they may think that it is just going to be another slow, drudging psychedelic metal act in the vein of A STORM OF LIGHT, complete with lengthy, distorted chords, rough shouting, and percussive drums that shine best when the guitars quiet down. However, as the album picks up along, fans will notice that this quartet of stoner rockers have a bit more to offer than just slow, drudging tracks over and over. Lots of times the music here on ‘Our Slow Decay’ is a bit faster and more upbeat with still retaining that grungy, bitter sound and dredges along in a way that is not quite happy but not quite depressed; more in the vein of THE GATES OF SLUMBER. ‘The Crowd and the Snake’ is a perfect example of this with a fast, energetic rhythm that is still gritty in production and sound with the vocals singing and shouting along, but listeners can certainly notice the energy pick up in the pace of the music, making this opt more for stoner rock/ metal, possibly lending a bit from FLOODSTAIN influence. To hear ‘Eulogy’ is to certainly consider that the band borrowed some riffs from FOO FIGHTERS ‘All My Life’, a band that is often considered a cross between grunge and alternative rock in earlier days. So by this point listeners should have a good idea of where BLACK SLEEP OF KALI is headed, musically. It’s good to see the band expanding borders beyond the limitations of the slow and repetitive sound that is stereotypical of stoner rock constantly.
Of course, things can change in a heartbeat. The epic ‘The Great Destroyer’ is slow and lumbering - the album epic - and features some cleaner, group singing amongst the roaring. Here, one could consider comparing the band to MASTADON as the music picks up and then slows down in the repetitive, but hypnotic riffs that spill over and over amongst the heavy pounding of the drums. “Cries of the Crowd” falls back more into the psychedelic metal as everything seems a lot more distorted and dragged out. The music may tend to get a repetitive- part of the beauty of hypnotic qualities- and the vocals tend to be the focus and they shout and sing away amongst the cacophony. Maybe one could compare this to KYLSEA, minus the female vocals and tribal influences in the drums. Finally there is ‘End With No Beginning’ which brings a good, even pace of the stoner rock and psychedelic hymns together for a track that will not bore one at all and still remains gravitating in its musical qualities. With only guitars, bass, and drums, the simplicity of the debut album may put some people off, but overall this is some strong metal that is worth rocking out to, and perhaps even meditating, to in one’s own personal space or in the company of good friends.
Tracklist
01. There Is Nothing - 5:37
02. The Crowd and the Snake - 5:38
03. Eulogy - 4:51
04. The Great Destroyer - 8:24
05. In Time - 4:50
06. Cries of the Crowd - 6:04
07. End With No Beginning - 6:43
Line-up
Patrick - Guitar
Taylor - Guitar, vocals
Austin - Bass
Gordon - Drums
Website
http://www.myspace.com/blacksleepofkali
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7
Sound: 6
Total: 6.5 / 10
Comments powered by CComment