Review Summary: A dance for the dead.
Brains are a doom rock band who formed in the north county of Cork, Ireland. In 2010 the band released a short demo "Strangemeat" which was then followed in 2012 by the release of the bands EP Alchemy. Unlike many of their contemporaries in the doom genre, Brains take a similar stance alongside the Swedish band Ghost in that their styles ebb towards 70's pop rock sensibilities entwined with lyrics referencing various occult topics. Think Tom Petty in corpse paint.
The pitter-pattering of rainfall over a droning synth beat sets the opening mood. Before exploding into a upbeat chord progression over the sound of a funeral organ. The musicianship over the course of the record stays fresh and interesting, from the blues bass riff in Thelemea to the fuzzy kyuss-like solos in Brown Jenkin. In particular, The title track and Eclipse showcase the bands knack for writing competent rockers. Whilst the homages to the bands various influences can be heard throughout the record this doesn't come across as a lazy hand-in.
Although with only 6 tracks Alchemy does suffer from some issues. Soil Creep suffers from a bland and repetitive chorus. Also, whilst the title track is a solid song, the ending chorus solo sounds tinny in the songs production. This is a shame as the overall record is well handled, giving space for all vocals and instrumentation to be heard clearly.
To conclude, whilst Brains have created an entertaining collection of songs it is with hope there next release will expand upon the ideas that have been made here. Alchemy is a pleasant listen that's certainly a good alternative to play for this all hallow's eve.
http://brainscork.bandcamp.com/album/alchemy
