Review Summary: Their debut album goes postal, which you may Gnocchi-tice.
Doom metal is going strong this year it seems, because I cannot find a subpar release. The gods of the old have truly blessed us. The latest doomy metal is Word of Sin, a doom metal album. Doom and metal is present with minor chords used, Haunted Mansion ride spookiness, bells tolling, and spoken word bits to forcibly make the spirit boil in the fires of Hell. It’s typical doom metal stuff to get you depressed or creeped out, or to wallow in your witchy vibes, while lighting your scented candles from Amazon.com (Satan sold separately). Indeed, this is truly a doom metal album.
In terms of the metal it actually dooms decently hard, these riffs could light a sacrificial goat on fire. The vocalists are of the male and female variety (because of course they are), though the man has an indie/stoner rock type of voice. The man’s voice may seem ill fitting, and it kind of is. However, it is utilized well. The harmonies and melodies give off a Katatonia vibe, though the gloomy riffs are practically Draconian era. Not quite though, and therefore not doom metally enough. The wonkiness of neither this or that means an interesting album that wants to be chill rock, but it wants to be shocking metal as well. One of these things is not like the other one.
Fret not, the album is quite enjoyable. The way their spooky dooky, strong arm riffs intersect with their Bahamas in pajamas sound can be nothing short of brilliant. Generic, but absolutely engaging, and there’s a spanking riff around every corner that’ll make you say, “Oh ***, good gracious”! Would I have preferred some harsh vocals? Yes. Is the male guy dude my favourite singer? No. Is the album not perfect, but still a good time? Yeah. Last to mention is the songwriting which is quite lovely. One thing that this album is not is worthy of sleeping to in my nightgown. Some of these lyrics may even stir you enough to actually read them, which I don’t bother to do all that often unless reviewing. The sections will surprise, the transitions will amaze, and the songs will astound. There’s more twists and turns than a razor navigating my face, and trust me, I got curves. In short, check it out but don’t check my face out, that’s kinda creepy.
Last paragraph by popular demand! I’ll be honest I hate the album art, it’s well made, but I hate it. That’s exactly the point of the album though, to shock you. Whether a thousand dead witches are flying at you (the lyrical content in A Thousand Dead Witches), or the lead man goes off on a weird cultish sounding tangent speech, the entirety is intriguing. Queen of Pain especially had some interesting lyrics which perfectly propelled their Satanic motif, their lead lady fronting the song with the typical, but flavourful gothic tone. It works, it dooms its metal, and each special track tracks. Certain unearthly vocals mixed with riffs are fun and deep sounding, and certain spacey, almost orchestral chants are the cream of the burning crop. It is fun. The one large issue I have with the album, however, is the fact that I’ve heard this type of album before. Mansion’s album Second Death was released this year, and it was much more shocking yet similar in tone. In terms of a dark, foreboding atmosphere I will still return to Draconian or maybe even Mansion for it. This is a solid album, but clearly a debut, in which improvement can certainly be done.
