Review Summary: Excellent sludgy stoner metal with doom undertones
It’s very hard to actually place Bison B.C. under a specific genre; to fully categorize them. On
Dark Ages there is so much going on the listener will simply be either overwhelmed or terribly pleased after the disc has ended. Going from full sludge metal cuts, like "Fear Cave", to more stoner styled songs, like "Melody, This Is For You", Bison B.C. are always able to keep things interesting and fresh. With their sophomore full length, Bison B.C. have firmly placed themselves on the top end of new-wave stoner/sludge bands.
On
Dark Ages, the band do an excellent job in mixing hard hitting rhythms with a dim atmosphere, while the screamed/shouted vocals are piercing through the thick sound. The distorted basslines are especially great to listen to, as they, along with the drumming, create a strong backbone for the songs. Thanks to a very refined and thick rhythm section, the guitarists have more leeway to experiment with different time signatures and add in slightly higher-pitched leads, which are still by all accounts, pleasingly heavy.
Dark Ages is definitely an album that should be listened to in one piece. While the songs all sound great individually, when listened to in full,
Dark Ages becomes an experience one into metal shouldn't want to miss. The way the songs all melt together into 40 minutes of stoner/sludge bliss is well-worth envying. There’s not a single part that sounds recycled or repetitive; not a single boring section. Like the animal the band is named after, Bison B.C. can turn from your average jogging tempo to a lightning-quick sprint effortlessly, while still sounding graceful and unforced. From calm to aggressive, quick to slow, chill to crushing,
Dark Ages is varied and excellent regardless of which nook you are looking it from.
With
Dark Ages being only the second album by Bison B.C., it will be more than interesting to see where these guys will stand in about 10 years time. Can they make the jump from great to grand is to be seen, but for now,
Dark Ages is exactly the kind of album a metal band wants to have as their sophomore outing – hard hitting, fresh, heavy and intense. Bison B.C. is worth looking out for, and
Dark Ages is worth the price your local record store is selling it at.
