Revenant

Curdling yak milk between here and Athens is half-sludgy/half-hard-driving doom metal trio by dark name of Seer of the Void, a newly proud author of Stygian babe (August full-length debut) Revenant...sans king.

Featuring eight freshly minted, oft lazily grooving offerings spread beyond graveyards over half-hour plus of well-cloaked i.e. produced countenance, Seer of the Void is known to, as they say in playman's terms, "step on it", from time to time. Alpha-prime example of this luminous phenomenon entails better portion of opener "Prodigal Sun" (Iron Maiden's anti-progeny); particularly, as soon as a menacingly craning and lurching guitar riff/bass line/elephantine drum beat casts its spellbinding net roughly forty seconds in. Shamefully so, as this genre staple fools the listener into expecting more of such sped up, yet lumbering debilitation akin to Hour of 13, Iron Void and Lucifer's Fall. Black Oath, Cardinal's Folly, Eye of Doom, High Inquisitor Woe, Hooded Priest and Temple, as far as craggy vocal despondence and doomilicious vicissitude go, are also applicable.

Thankfully, most of the songs apply tried & true methods of variation, in terms of riff alteration and sparse, however wizened, soloing, in addition to battery implements of an equitably towering disposition, like at end of gloomy "Venom Black", or throughout even darker/funereal, hypnotizing "Sign of the Wolf". (A slight caveat, here, as I'm trifle annoyed by this blatant hallowed Pentagram song title usurping on behalf of our moribund, Grecian troubadours. Yet, the hoary, mausoleum evoking, trilling lead, alongside grimly beatific atmosphere, saves the night eternal.

Bassist/front man Maddog's phlegm-y caws, while not quite my cup of cyanide, suitably fit the meaty, raw-boned riff-age and piercing, minor keyed - yet decidedly evil sounding - blues solos like a glove...on a desiccated scarecrow. The most intense, lead-focus heavy embellishment within (Tomb) Revenant lies in "Lysurgis Mons". While not quite album pinnacle, solos eradicate any form of meandering, repetitive blandness.

Hence, there aren't any outright weak moments throughout Seer's searing trip through the void. Its riff are nothing new, nor are the leads, bass lines or drums - aside for faster, Pentagram styled "Hellhound", which also features Orange Goblin-like wah-drenched section; such powerful punch assuages so-called "dynamite doom" inclinations. This mass comes to a head with closer "Conform and Strive", a slow-burn night tripper complete with ungodly, Iommi-styled (half) finger trill, venomously expressive vox, courtesy of "Insaniam Canem" and spectacular, pan-cryptic denouement - as in, jam-y deceleration unto oblique pastures.

For a brand spanking new formation without precedent(s) i.e EP, demo, single, compilation appearance, etc., the Mediterranean's latest genre spectre assuredly knows its Tartarean or Plutonic business.