Wykan - Solace (2018)
With their debut EP, this
Montreal-based trio kicks things off with a mean groove, leading with
“Lahppon Olmmos”, which brandishes a sample of tribal chanting
before the guitar, drums, and bass drop into place. Heavy metal
noodling on the guitar joins doom-worthy bass and blackened vocal
grinds, while the drums bounce heavily without holding too fast to
any one of the influences. Though there's plenty of energy all
around, the riffs supplied by the guitarist steal the lead focus
pretty handily, and despite the aggressive flavoring of the singing,
there's a strong current of fun running through it.
“The Gathering” picks up after
“Lahppon Olmmos” wraps up its ~7-minute run, moving to a slower
pace and gentle melody, drum intensity building up to the bursting
point for the metal switch. This is probably the track which most
evidences band-leader Jeremy Perkins' background in black metal, with
tremulous strumming, sustained passages of tension, and more naked
venom than either of its EP-mates. Lastly, there's “Wykan” to
serve as the EP's closer and (what with sharing the band's name)
offering up something of a mission statement for the group's coming
efforts. Like “The Gathering”, it moves from a slow opening to
heavy intensity, and the riffs come chugging like a train loaded down
with corpses. All told, it's an impressive debut, with enough hooks
to catch ears wherever it gets play. So grab yourself a copy, turn
it up, and consume some mean doom.
~ Gabriel
For Fans Of; Acid Bath, Jupiterian, The
Munsens, Vodun, Yanomamo
~
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