Strega

Every band that comes around these days tries to find a niche. Subrosa has found one: they are the only all girl stoner/sludge metal band (that I know of) that is making a name for themselves. Heavy riffs laid upon a seductive female voice lure you in and then spit you back out time after time again on ‘Strega’, the band’s debut full-length album, released this year on I Hate Records. In the background, Eno-like noises arise from a violin that would sound as at home on a dark ambient release as it does here. All the instruments are recorded in a lo-fi way as to keep the crunchy, chugging heaviness that may otherwise be lost amongst among the almost goth metal-esque vocals and the eerie violin. The best song on the album, however, is the band’s rendition of ‘Go Down Moses’. Completely acapella, the song is one of the most haunting, powerful songs I’ve heard, and definitely my favorite.

Overall this album is a very strong debut, and fans of Kyuss, Swans, Kylesa, and the like should take note, as this is a band to keep an eye on in the future.