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Sheavy -Disfigurine
Artist : Sheavy
Album : Disfigurine
Label : Dallas Tarr Records
Year : 2010
Genre : Metal Source : CDDA
Encoder : FLAC 1.2.1 Bitrate : 1010kbps
Playtime : 60:44 Size : 441.00 MB
Tracks:
01 in the shadows of vesuvius 01:20
02 waking the bloodbeast 03:24
03 disfigurine 05:31
04 echo in the skull 04:25
05 dead since birth 05:32
06 clutching at straws 06:45
07 the book of lost time 02:58
08 beyond the black waves 08:04
09 eyes of the demon lord 04:45
10 war on titan 08:36
11 voices from the star chamber 09:24
Notes:
So what is all this then, Sheavy don't released a album
for 3 years and then bring out 2 killer slabs of Stoner
Metal within 3 months. This isn't some gigantic typo on
my part, Sheavy have in fact recorded two albums just
in the last few months and even more outstanding is
they are both great. The last album released in late
May of this year titled "The Golden Age Of Daredevils"
was the result of something called the RPM challenge,
which invites musicians to create a whole album of
music within a set time-frame. This might explain the
sudden activity from the Sheavy camp, where as this
would send most bands into a panic, Sheavy have flown
though with flying colors producing two of their best
albums. I won't give you a history lesson on the band,
I did that just a couple of months ago when I reviewed
the previous album but I will say again for the record
this band from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador,
Canada have been one of the more highly consistent
bands of the last 15 years. The only misstep in my
opinion was "Celestial Hi-Fi" released in 2000 on Rise
Above Records and even that was still better than most
other discs released around that time.
The first thing that becomes apparent when listening to
"Disfigurine" for the first time is they seem to be
moving away from their traditional Black Sabbath roots
and into a more aggressive and metallic machine, it may
have something to do with new guitarist Chris White
coming into the band, he replaced the original
guitarist Dan Moore in 2009. After the heavy drum-laden
intro "In the Shadows of Vesuvius" which is a killer
way to start any album, they launch into "Waking the
Bloodbeast" and its classic old school metal all the
way, catchy heavy rhythms, uptempo grooves, wailing
solo's and with Steve Hennessey trademark Ozzy-like
vocals. As well as the band hitting up a more
aggressive mood this time around, it also features the
most thunderous drumming I have ever heard from Sheavy,
its pulverizing and the sound is massive. The title
track and especially "Echo In The Skull" are totally
bad-ass examples of how "Stoner Metal" should be made
and for those of you that think The Sword are the
bees-knees at the moment, listen to this and you will
soon forget The Sword even exist. Blending strong,
infectious melodies with beefy riffs is nothing new but
not many bands have this much propulsion in their
fuzz-drenched songbook.
"Dead Since Birth" at track number 5 is the first time
when the Sabbathian qualities of vintage Sheavy come
in, its slow, doomy but with more of the irresistible
guitar melodies. In true Sheavy style they mix it up
with mid-tempo head nodding sections, they have never
been a band to sit on one straight formula for a entire
song and this album is maybe the most varied yet with a
endless array of tasty tempo changes. "Clutching At
Straws" has a twisting, menacing riff and a pounding
beat but the guitar sound is enough on its own to make
the hairs rise and the head bang and this album has
more hooks than a butcher's shop. The guitar sound is
almost perfect with the right amount of clean fuzz and
dirt, its also brilliantly mixed with all instruments
being right in your face but without nothing over-
powering each other. "The Book Of Lost Time" is short,
sweet and has one of the coolest punky riffs I have
ever heard and the bass lines are wickedly chunky.
"Beyond The Black Waves" is the albums first trip into
a extended piece, it starts off with a intro in the
vein of other gems from Sheavy's pass (Electric Sleep)
and it then becomes a slithering epic doom track at
first before it heading into a semi-aggressive, mid-
tempo chugging groove. "Beyond The Black Waves"
continues to evolve and sway in different directions,
it even has a lead harmony section that could have come
from Thin Lizzy or even Iron Maiden, its a colorful
piece of metallic beauty.
"Eyes Of The Demon Lord" and the albums other epic
track "War On Titan" are also very impressive, the
former is a groove laden tune with incredible hooks and
screaming solo's, the latter is another mid-tempo
cruncher till you get to halfway into the track where
there is a extended mellow interlude with melodic lead
work, Sheavy show they are more than just a riff
machine, this is real classy and progressive metal.
"Disfigurine" ends on the longest track on the album,
the 9 minute "Voices From The Star Chamber" and its
perhaps the most complex tune that the band has ever
put together. The first 5 minutes is centered around a
rotating twisting riff line with both the guitar and
bass (together) seriously locked into a groove but they
also delight the ears with a chunky, doomy riff or two
and searing leads towards the conclusion of the tune.
All in all, its a perfect way to finish this monumental
piece of Sheavy history. If you are sick of the "limp
wristed hybrid of stoner metal bands" that seems to be
everywhere these days then you need to check out
"Disfigurine" by Sheavy, this is the real deal and this
is one of the best releases of 2010. Sheavy continue to
amaze with their song-writing expertise and their
endless array of incredible riffs and infectious hooks.
This is my choice for "Stoner Metal" album of the year
if that tag even applies here, this is just classic
metal in my book.