Through Smoke and Darkness...

Bretus / Black Capricorn ~ Split (2015)

 

One of the meanest splits so far this year, two Italian heavy weights cut loose with both barrels for a pairing surely made in the backroom at some virgin sacrifice no one knows about. First up on the album is Bretus with their track "Haunter of the Dark", a six and a half minute trudging doom opus that's not quite equal parts Black Sabbath and Type O Negative. After opening with some thunder and church bells, a snarling riff starts up and huge vocals make their presence felt, things meld and solidify more as slightly harsher vocals make their appearance well into the song. If you're familiar with their work, this one won't let you down. The flip side is all about Black Capricorn's crushing doom metal sound that they've made their name on. Droning riffs that drag themselves along to the pounding drum rhythms, with the only reprieve being a howling guitar solo in the second half. All of this with deep, powerful vocals presiding over the whole thing. Definitely the grittier of the two bands, they offer the perfect contrast to the relatively cleaner sound from Bretus. While it took a little looking to find a place to buy the split, it looks like you can grab it from the record label Arcane Tapes here.
~Skip

For Fans Of; Pilgrim, Saint Vitus, Merlin

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Bretus Bandcamp

 

Of Wicked Heritage...

Bretus - The Shadow Over Innsmouth (2015)

I've always got a soft spot for metal with Lovecraftian themes, so getting a full album built around one of his stories is a rare treat.  The Shadow Over Innsmouth is the latest release from Italy's squad of Bretus, and while there's a lot of traditional doom metal to the base of the music, the psychedelic under-currents to be found in the freedom of the guitar's riffs and tone-twisting provide an alien influence well-suited to the album's setting.  The lead melodies are heavy but catchy, putting me in mind of early Black Sabbath filtered through Candlemass, with dramatic vocal outbursts such as "Human sacrifice!" to give you a good jolt of spookiness.
Instrumental stretches provide noodling and slow doom riffs in near-equal measure, getting around the problem of possibly taking themselves too seriously/grimly by letting the music have fun while the singer keeps a straight face, vocally speaking.  They've got a melodic side that they let shine a few times with pared-down interludes, but the big bass presence dominates Innsmouth like shadows in the water, never letting things get safe for too long.  The climactic tracks deliver a satisfyingly wild rise of action as the narrative's chase ensues, with the conclusion growing naturally out of the album's established themes.  All in all, some very well done doom metal with enough homage to tradition to satisfy purists and enough experimentation to draw in those who haven't previously explored that style.  CD and vinyl copies will be available through Bloodrock Records, with a digital download option already live to be enjoyed.
~ Gabriel

For Fans Of;    Saint Vitus, Dream Death, DoomLord, Pilgrim, Space God Ritual

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Bretus - The Oath Of Dagon (320 kbps)

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