Review Summary: An interesting and unique doom metal debut, with so many things clashing, you can't help but wonder how the hell they pull it off.
Desperation is the English way.
Bloody Panda share this thought on the other side of the Atlantic, with their bleak yet energetic debut,
Pheremone.
I remember the first time I went to England; I was a young chap, fascinated by the Vikings, the knights, the witch burnings, all the brutal events of times past. My days in elementary school were spent staring out windows dreaming of ancient warriors and decapitations. Far better than that damned long division they were teaching me. Now, when I was set loose in London, my family probably regretted even taking me. It seemed that every single street in London had three things in common; someone was killed there, something historical happened, and everything was grey. And I wanted to see every street. Though that wish was, sadly, not granted, one wish of mine was to see Westminster Abbey; a vast housing of columns and all things holy, rich with history, lies, secrets, and who knows what else, just waiting for those to seek the answers it presented. Just stepping outside it, seeing it loom overhead, was daunting. The great place of worship before me made me feel so small, so insignificant, like it would crush me dare I gaze too long. Inside, the feeling is almost completely opposite; the pretentious entry seems almost welcoming, the walls and pillars glow gold and silver, the sun beats down through the enormous window, and you stand there, in awe. It’s something incredible, to stand before something so mighty, and then you yourself are lost in it, and forget your feelings. Maybe it’s how David felt when he slew Goliath, who knows, but it’s also the sound Bloody Panda creates.
A Japanese woman moves to NYC, microphone in hand, probably from those daring karaoke nights, and puts up a flyer for a band meeting. Greeted by several differing artists, from a jazz drummer to Sabbath-worshiping guitarists, the band somehow forms. This small New York collective of misfits becomes, through the power of music, a driving force so incredible you must simply listen in awe. Like so many doom metal bands, you’re greeted by a sonic wall so powerful you are completely crushed, and then after it all, you know you’re supposed to be there. The one thing that most doom metal bands don’t do, however, are add neurotic female vocals; Bloody Panda pretty much slaps you with them. Dark Castle, Acid King, Blood Ceremony, and other bands similar in the genre, all have female lead vocals, but Bloody Panda just throws their formula out the window. These vocals, courtesy of Yoshiko Ohara, are reminiscent of a Church. Her voice starts out in a wavering hum, and just like a congregation, and grows and grows around her, until the entire mood is sucked into her words. Though she lacks range, and questionably, even talent (compared to many female vocalists), her unique style takes away from her sometimes stale performance. The chanting effect of her echoing voice blends with the music incredibly well, and for that, they’re perfect. These aren’t leaky faucet vocals (like Julie Christmas’); they’re in your face, they’re haunting, and they’re epic, in the truest sense. When the first track opens, and Ohara chants out, possessed by the music of her fellow band mates, the line between reality and fantasy splits. It must be heard to be believed.
Not much else can be said about the rest of the band; though they’re talented, I feel like they don’t stand out much on this album. The guitarists write crushing passages, that make your eyes bleed with delight, the bass is muddy and mixed in behind, and the drums are actually fairly active. As mentioned before, the drummer of Bloody Panda has experience in jazz drumming (not to mention other styles), and he adds this in the doom laden songs. A typical slow, monotonous beat is replaced by a slightly faster, more complex, and driving rhythm is added, and the song is launched to another level of intensity. A welcome surprise in an already experimental band, and hopefully each band member will, in due time, bring more experimental elements to the already diverse Bloody Panda.
Bloody Panda may hail from New York and Japan, but their sound is that of an ancient English druid ceremony, wailing virgin included (well, I doubt our singer here is a virgin, but that’s beside the point). It’s dense, it’s evil, and it’s dripping into your ears like a brew derived from newt toes and toad newts and other nonsensical imaginings. I strongly suggest any metal fan, any chapel goer, or anyone remotely interested in cathedrals, to check this album out.
Also, did I mention they wear black hoods over their heads when they play live? +10 metal points.
