XML FeedsToby's bands of the week: Revelation & Orodruin
By Toby on Jun 10, 2010 | In Background, Features, Features, Features | 2 feedbacks »
Having spent the past 2 weeks languishing in an eighties heavy metal timewarp, we (reluctantly) return to the here-and-now… but with a twist. Today, I want to give you a double-scoop of doom, a buy-one-get-one free, if you will. But why should I wish to so flagrantly defy the rules of ‘band of the week’? Born To Be Doomed Festival, that’s why.
BTBD, taking place on the 2nd & 3rd July, is set to be a mammoth event that will shake the very foundations of Baltimore’s gritty streets. It has been organised by two of doom metal’s finest standard-bearing Johns; Mr Brenner of Revelation and Mr Gallo of Orodruin, and it’s the musical fruits of their labour which I want to harp on about today.
Revelation shouldn’t really require any introduction, but for those unfamiliar, they are, quite frankly, US doom nobility. Widely regarded as being highly influential, the band have had a number of guises, during a career that began well over 20 years ago. Whilst the line-up on each of their first 3 records (released between ’91 and ‘95) differed, the attention to heavy, progressive riff-based doom metal remained a constant driving force. John Brenner’s distinctive vocals lit up the first 2 albums (Salvation’s Answer & Never Comes Silence), before Dennis Cornelius took over (for Yet So Far) with his different, yet equally unique voice. Musically, they were/are masters of powerful, intricate and above all, interesting songs, performed with a passion that just oozes from the wax.
During the last couple of years of reactivation (featuring the original Brenner, Hall, Branagan line-up), they’ve released 2 albums through Shadow Kingdom Records; ‘For the Sake of No One’ & ‘Release’. Whilst both keep the traditional Revelation sound, there is a far more laidback vibe that runs through the music. To solely describe it as doom metal, would do them a great disservice. The Revelation of today are thought-provoking, challenging and at times uplifting (something that is not often associated with the genre). They are a living, breathing legend (not that they’d admit it…).
And Orodruin? Well they’re just as fine as Revelation, but from further along the epicus doomicus spectrumicus (and with a little less history!). They’ve released two cracking records through Austria’s Psychedoomelic Records; Epicurean Mass (2003) and Claw Tower and Other Tales (2004 - which is a comp of demo tracks). Both provide huge riff-heavy slabs of music that will leave your speakers tattered and your mind mangled.
Imagine a crossbred racehorse made up from part-Candlemass, part-Sabbath & part-Paul Chain and you would be a small way towards understanding the mighty nature of this band. As with Revelation, Orodruin are great songwriters and that really is the key to why they're so good. John Gallo's gigantic guitar tone and the clear/clean/soulful vocals of Mike Puleo also help things just a bit...
If the snippets of new material that I’ve heard are anything to go by, the upcoming (and extremely long-awaited) ‘In Doom’ EP will be earth-shatteringly brilliant too. Anyway, don't listen to me. Find out for yourselves...
Any US readers in the area/able to make it to Baltimore for this show; miss it at your peril. It's set to be one helluva weekend.
For Orodruin info/music see: www.myspace.com/orodruin
For Revelation see: http://www.myspace.com/revelationdoom
For Born to Be Doomed info: http://www.borntoolate.net/borntobedoomed/
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As usual, feel free to send smutty jokes, humourous insults & witty banter to: ageoftaurus@googlemail.com
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