Third album in for this Czech-based sludge/doom band, and things are just getting worse... in all the best ways. First off, kudos to Candlelight for snapping this band up: this is some seriously underrated sludge. And it's got plenty of dimension to it: 'Rodeo With Snakes' features breathtaking instrumental interplay, while 'Medium' is as powerful as the most intense and hypnotic moments in NEUROSIS' catalogue. Throughout the album, the band pulls off interesting dynamics and riffs while bludgeoning the listener with huge, intense tunes (how many 10-minute songs can a band fit on a CD?). But it's that subtlety and ability to give a light touch when needed that makes the rest of the hammering so brutal. This is really, really recommended for fans of sludge, doom, and Neurosis/ISIS-style apocalyptic epic metal. Their older material was just relentless, but with this album Zatokrev are all grown up, and in the best of ways: this isn't “mature” as in “weaker, more boring, more meandering.” It's mature as in “will still kill you, but will do it with a bit of class now.” Well worth seeking out if you like your metal on the extreme side.
Content 2012 Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles
Design and Programming 2012 Grafang
