Ape Vermin – Arctic Noise
Release Date: 7th May 2021
Label: Koloss Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Doom, Sludge.
FFO: Acid Mammoth, Conan, Monolord, Sleep.
Review By: Jason Morgan
Ape Vermin are a progressive doom metal trio out of North Carolina. Their latest EP “Arctic Noise” will shatter the ice beneath you and run chills down your spine as your mind wanders into the vast tundra of the ice age.
Megaliths of Echo starts with a howling guitar intro that resonates like a terrified mammoth trapped in an icy cave. It then rolls into a hypnotic fuzzy riff, sure to draw you into the cave only to be slaughtered by a hard charging riff accompanied by articulate primitive style vocals.
Ancient Ruin comes in with a soaring intro and melodic tribal chanting. The riff builds to a heavier level as the neanderthal vocals come in. The song weaves in and out of melodic chants infused with heavy sludge, and goes out with a heavy outro.
Arctic Noise seals the feel of neanderthal life in ancient times. It starts off with chilling sludge riffs that will take you back to 10,000 BC. As the vocals kick in you will feel the pain of surviving the brutality of the ice age. Accented with heavy guitar leads reminiscent of early 70’s metal bands like Black Sabbath. This song has certainly met the doom metal criteria and is a great single.
From start to finish this EP is heavy and has a great doomy feel. I was mesmerized by the fuzz filled riffs and the vocals that sound very primitive but, unlike Death Metal, the lyrics are present and understandable. There are parts that are doomy and some that lean more into sludge, but at the same time very melodic. North Carolina has become a hub for a whole list of doom bands and Ape Vermin certainly are reaching the top of the list with this EP.
(5 / 5)
