Labels: Cruz Del Sur Music
Review by: Alex Deller
Featuring as it does two newies, a Manilla Road cover and three demo cuts this EP from Smoulder is a bit like scavenged armour … it hangs together in an odd sort of way but ultimately does the trick. The band’s mix of vintage doom and triumphant, sword-swinging epic metal is in full and glorious effect, earning its Michael Whelan artwork with a rousing mix of crashing riffs, banner-waving melodies and soaring, battle-ready vocals. It might not entirely sate those of us wanting a full follow-up to last year’s excellent ‘Times Of Obscene Evil And Wild Daring’ LP, but it at least serves as a surprise mouthful of mead at the bottom of a drinking horn you thought had long been supped dry. Hail!