Apostle of Solitude - From Gold to Ash (2018)
Returning three years after their last
album, Apostle of Solitude have assembled forty-five minutes of new
material for their fourth solo LP, due out February 23rd, working big riffs and heavy
atmosphere to nice effect. It's doom with some force behind it, and
as the band moves along through the seven tracks, they balance the
slabby bass-lines with emotive vocals, drums both thunderous and
gentle, and some fierce guitar-work. Almost all the songs break the
6-minute mark, so you get to hear the band build some big structures
and give them thorough exploration, all the while using some lush
production to bring out the finer details in the resonating chords.
The band also maintains a strong sense
of character and consistent tone through the songs, without falling
into monotonous drudgery or predictable tricks. It's an album that
really hits the feel of being conceived and executed in one fruitful
go of it, while still fitting into the larger scope of the band's
full catalog. Closing out on the funereal “Grey Farewell”, the
band shows that they've developed the important quality of restraint
with their doom, letting sparseness and simplicity have their place
without being buried under tons of fuzz or over-amped bass wallows.
By emphasizing the role of well-made melodies in the style, AoS give
promise that there's more ideas yet to be shared from their group,
and that they'll be given the time and growth they need to come out
smashing.
~ Gabriel
For Fans Of; Below, Earthshine, The
Fateful Hour, Of Spire & Throne, Pilgrim
~
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