Sure, it’s another band taking it slow and low, but you can always rely on 20 Buck Spin to come up with the goods. I remember being especially taken with what were presumably Samothrace’s demo tracks, with the soul, easy melody and natural flow clearly evident even through the internet filtered, lo-fi murk of a cursory listen. On the record proper, it comes together beautifully, with the four lengthy tracks taking a leisurely pace, but still crushing your head to a mushy pulp when it wants to. The soulful aspect is the main thing though, with a playful way with riffs and song structure that creates a melancholy melodic atmosphere that transcends what should be a painfully dirge-filled experience. Vocally it’s a little on the generic howl-in-the-winter-darkness side, but it’s a minor point. Think Asunder, Neurosis, Buried At Sea and so on. Excellent.
