Review Summary: This self titled full-length is the first of two LPs released by the band known as Abdullah. Hailing from Cleveland Ohio, Abdullah released an album full of hypnotizing vocals and heavy riffs.
The opening song
The Path to Enlightenment starts out with blues driven guitar that is a staple to this album. The song opens up with a simple blues lick, then leads in to a simple, yet heavy riff.
The vocals are a bit throaty, but the vocalist (Jeff Shirilla) manages to still belt out catchy melodies throughout the album. Jeff wastes no time in showing this. His first few opening bars on
The Path to Enlightenment are very catchy. The vocals start out as a typical melody, then split into a self dubbed harmony.
Earth's Answer is where they bring the Doom. It's slow, heavy, and deliberate. The guitars really drive the feel of the song as a whole. Keeping with the Doom,
Visions of the Daughters of Time opens up with a slow bass riff. This riff a very common motif throughout the song, and often the music behind the vocals. Clocking in at 7:00 the bass riff creates a bit of monotony. Especially since the guitars do very little to separate themselves from the bass.
Lucifer in Starlight is the first of two ballads on this album. Since the general feel of this album has been slow and melancholic this song is not out of place, and flows with the album.
Lucifer in Starlight is absent of distorted guitar as would be expected in a ballad. However the bass keeps the musical theme present.
After the ballad
The Black Ones brings us back into the realm of heavy. As slow as this album is
The Black Ones is even slower than the rest of the songs. Nearing the end of the album we hear the bluesiest song,
Journey to the Orange Island.
The second longest song on the album,
Journey to the Orange Island is a bit of a listen. Those of you who enjoy blues driven rock will find the eight minute twenty-eight second listen a piece of cake.
Journey to the Orange Island is the second to last song on the album. Unfortunately Jeff's vocals are much less interesting than they were at the beginning of the album.
The final song of the album also happens to be the final ballad on the album.
Lotus Eaters unlike the previous ballad, Lucifer in Starlight, feels as if it was just tacked on. It loses the general feel of the album with the acoustic guitars.
Lotus Eaters is also the worst vocal performance on the album. Surely they could have picked a stronger song to end the album with.
Pros:
Heavy and catchy riffs
Mostly interesting vocal melodies
Cons:
Mediocre at best drumming
Some songs seem to drag on a bit too long
