Slomatics – Strontium Fields
Release Date: 8th September 2023
Label: Black Bow Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Doom, Sludge, Space Rock.
FFO: Candlemass, Pallbearer, Type O Negative.
Review By: Jeffery Childress
Northern Ireland’s Doom/Sludge Metal trio Slomatics who have been banging it out since 2004, will release Strontium Fields, their 8th full length album on Friday, September 8th. I found this album to be delightfully muculent, thick, fuzzy and hefty. This release will be a real hit with fans of Candlemass, Type O Negative and Pallbearer.
Marty’s Vocals lend a gothy, eerie, and overall haunting feel that can at times be reminiscent of the likes of Pallbearers Matt Campbell combined with the epic wail akin to Candlemass vocal giant Messiah Marcolin and a twist of Ozzy to round it all out. Instrumentally, the album takes on a textbook doom/stoner quality, complete with all the fuzz and heavy guitar work from David and Chris that you would expect from a good doom record. An atmospheric haze seems to loom overhead with some slight synth work that is a sweet gothy addition to this album’s eerie and menacing feel. Marty’s drumming cannot be overlooked, with his sensational job bringing the hammers of hell down upon all who partake. All that being said, let’s talk about some tracks.
The album opens in impressive fashion with the wonderfully eerie and atmospheric intro of Wooden Satellites. I really got into the big, full wall of sound when that first riff breaks in. However, I was absolutely blown away once I Neandrethal began. This epic banger presents itself in such a dark, brooding way that will send the listener to a realm that could have possibly from time to time been trod by the likes of Candlemass themselves. The vocals are exceptionally coupled by the track’s certain swing and gallop that creates a momentum sure to leave the listener in anticipation for the rest of the album.
Time Capture presents itself with an opening that takes the audio explorer by the hand and leads them down a psychedelic walk into a dark journey, teasing their insides with what is expected to turn into a sudden heavy blast, only to hang in the atmosphere with Marty’s exquisitely haunting Vocals.
Like A Kind of Minotaur is wonderfully creative and awesomely heavy with superb vocal chops. It is the perfect heavy lead-up to Voidans, with its sudden gut punch of sound that rides up and down along fuzzy peaks and valleys until you reach a pounding bridge that commands you to ‘bang head here’ upon its arrival. This one is easily one of my favorites on the record. I loved the way the track showcases Marty’s exceptional vocal range and control.
Zodiac Arts Lab was my least favorite track and wasn’t my cup of tea, as it was simply a bit too goth rocky for me. However, just because it isn’t my flavor doesn’t mean it won’t be yours. ARCS and With Dark Futures on the other hand hit the mark perfectly with excellent riffing, a bit of desert rock guitar styling and great drum work. Its enormous walls of sound are just gothy enough to provide that abysmal that excites doomers and stoners so much.
Fans of Sludge, doom and stoner metal all will definitely be satisfied with this great album. This is one that I will certainly be recommending to others in my local scene. I rate this doomy banger a solid 4.0 out of 5. Thanks for hanging out, and stay extreme.
(4 / 5)
