As I stepped out of Tufnell Park tube station the skies were grey and overcast and there was drizzle in the air, which is pretty much ideal weather conditions to represent the sixth edition of Doom Over London (DoL).
I was unable to attend the whole 3 day event but could not turn down the opportunity to see some of the finest doom/doom influenced and sludge bands that the UK has to offer on the Saturday.
First up it has to be said that this was a superbly organised festival. On the whole most bands ran to time across the three venues/stages and the atmosphere throughout the day was friendly and respectful. It was great to see so many bands happily mixing and chatting with the punters and everyone was most definitely having a great time (fuelled no doubt by a few bevvies!). Big well done and respect to all involved.
As soon as the doors opened Steve, Thom and I went straight into the Boston Music Rooms to catch Gevaudan open proceedings in fine style. Starting and finishing your set with a bang on a huge gong set up behind the drum kit is always a good thing in my book! Clearly influenced by the likes of Sabbath and Candelmass this 4 piece were simply brilliant from start to finish. With huge riffs and a singing style from vocalist Adam that veered from great traditional clean tones to a guttural death metal style roar, Gevaudan had the sizable early day crowd in the palm of their collective hands from the off. Guitarist Bruce (replete in superb purple flares and a cool Vertigo t shirt) most definitely does “doom” and had all the moves whilst drummer David and bassist Andy underpin the whole sound to great effect. As soon as the last gong was struck it was straight to the merch stand to buy a CD and t shirt combo and I definitely look forward to seeing Gevaudan again soon.
Gevaudan
Next up in the main room of the Dome were King Goat from Brighton who were bathed in subtle blue light throughout. I have to admit that I didn’t warm to King Goat straight away however the more I heard of them the more I got into them (and for the second time already today I find myself hearing Candlemass influences). In particular the second track played had some epically huge riffs and bluesy/proggy undertones that most definitely caught the attention and got my head bobbing along. Whilst hooded vocalist Trim is the centre of attention, the band do not look overawed or out of place on the big stage, which bodes well for the future! I’ll be checking out new album Conduit as King Goat have most definitely caught my interest with the tracks that I heard at DoL.
King Goat
No time to waste as it’s straight back down to the Boston Music Rooms to catch Eye of Solitude who are already in full flow. As soon as I step into the room my face is torn off by the sonic maelstrom emanating from the stage! These Londoners are super heavy and when they lurch into one of their many funeral paced doom passages they are utterly enthralling and trance inducing. I haven’t been this blown away by a band in a while and the icing on the top of this particular filth encrusted cake is the guttural low vocals that are vomited up throughout by Daniel, which superbly compliment the music. Eye of Solitude are definitely not one-dimensional though and interject the gloom with some atmospheric moments of melody before you’re once again pummelled by the colossal tsunami of sludge that flows from the speakers. Another one to check out!
Eye of Solitude
Conjurer are a band that I’ve heard a lot of good things about and have just signed to the excellent Holy Roar Records. Therefore, I was definitely looking forward to seeing them for the first time. First impressions were very good as they battered the sizable crowd in the Dome with their dual vocalist sludgy doom attack. Like many of the best bands around at the moment (OHHMS, Hark to name a couple) they are difficult to pin down to just one or two metal genres as I hear hints of post metal (Isis in particular) and black metal along the way. It has to be said that for a fairly new band they are incredibly tight and sound superb. Their debut release cannot come soon enough!
Conjurer
Straight back down to the BMR as Torpor have already started. As I shuffle towards the front of the stage I’m confronted by all 3 members of the band bellowing into microphones before they return to their instruments and launch into their brutally heavy set. I’m only able to catch a couple of songs but what I do see is a barrage of the filthiest order as all 3 members destroy both themselves and their instruments to produce a joyful cacophony of noise. Must catch more of their set next time!
Torpor
It’s a very short trip over the road to the Aces & Eights Bar to see the superbly named Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard, who are one of the bands that I’ve most been looking forward to seeing. MWWB’s debut release Noeth Ac Anoeth was one of my favourite albums of 2015 with its combination of huge monolithic riffs and the enchantingly angelic tones of Jessica Ball. The downstairs basement room that hosted the A&E stage is smaller than my living room, has no windows and as Jessica quite rightly states “it’s cozy down here”. This was going to get loud and no doubt my already destroyed hearing (with about 32 years of gig going wear and tear) was once again going to get a battering! Given the size of the venue the sound was pretty good as MWWB launched straight into a lengthy new track, which contained all their trademark elements of superb fuzzed out colossal riffs and ethereal droning vocals. As with Eye of Solitude earlier in the day, their sound is mesmeric and transports you away to another universe as they lurched into Les Paradis Artificiels (or it could be Slave Moon – my memory by this time is getting frazzled!). MWWB definitely lived up to my expectations and a return visit to London to play a longer set cannot come soon enough.
Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard
Slabdragger were another band that I just couldn’t miss, so it was that I found myself sprinting back over to the BMR through the incessant rain. Slabdragger’s latest release (Rise of the Dawncrusher) is one of the best albums I’ve heard this year to date and will almost certainly be in the year end top ten list. As I walk through the door I’m immediately hit by the huge sludgy riffs and throat shredding vocals. These guys are throwing absolutely everything into their performance with a “hardcore” like energy spilling from the stage and the crowd are lapping it up. Stand out track is definitely “Mercenary Blues”, which opens the new album on a wave of blues inspired crushing grooves that gets all heads vigorously nodding in unison. This sounds huge in the live environment, with Yusuf’s screams and Sam’s glorious riffing underpinned by Jack’s awesome drumming to create one of the best performances of the day.
Slabdragger
I’ve been a big fan and follower of fellow Kent lads Bossk since their inception in 2005 so was well chuffed when they got back together and announced plans to finally release their debut album on Deathwish Records. One of the biggest crowds of the day had assembled in the BMR as the band walked on to their customary incense drenched stage and veer straight into new track The Reverie. First impressions are incredibly favourable as it builds with some gorgeous post rock guitar work before careering headlong into a gloriously heavy crescendo that gets the whole crowd moving – absolutely stunning! A further new track follows, which is equally as superb with vocalist Sam bellowing over the top of the band (only slight quibble is that the vocals could be a bit higher in the mix!). We then get treated to a viciously heavy version of Pick Up Artist, which really gets the crowd going with a few moshers at the front totally losing it!
Bossk I
Every member of the band has brought their A game tonight to produce an incredible performance that is in my opinion undoubtedly the best of the day. I eagerly await new album Audio Noir dropping through my mailbox in the next couple of weeks so I can sample what will no doubt be one of the best albums of 2016.
Bossk II
So last but definitely by no means least for me are ((OHHMS)) back over at the Aces & Eights. As guitarist Daniel later said to me, due to the tiny stage and time constraints this had the feeling of a hardcore floor show where you just turn up, plug in and rage. And rage the ((OHHMS)) boys did as they launch straight into a new track, which starts with a thumping drum beat before descending into a frantic section and then levelling out into a great slow and heavy stomper containing some superb slow riffing. The sound at the front is super loud and the lads throw everything into their performance, with Chainy on top of the monitor, Paul singing in the faces of those at the front and Daniel throwing his guitar around (I had to duck a couple of time to avoid a guitar/face implosion moment!) It was great to see members of fellow Holy Roar bands Slabdragger and Conjurer at the front getting into the set (Sam from Slabdragger in particular enjoying himself!). On first listen this new track sounds great and once again I look forward to hearing it on their much anticipated debut album.
The new track segues straight into final track The Anchor from the Cold EP, which builds on a superb slow sludgy feedback drenched start before Paul (and those of us at the front) bellowing “you can’t sink us” leads into the riff fest finale of the song where the unhinged chaos on the stage/floor goes up another notch towards the sweat drenched heaving close.
What a great way to end the day. ((OHHMS)) are one of my favourite bands at the moment and are also top guys so it was superb to see them enjoying themselves so much and getting a great reception.
((OHHMS)) I
((OHHMS)) II
((OHHMS)) III
((OHHMS)) IV
Now if anyone finds my hearing scurrying around the Tufnell Park area could they please return it back to me in one piece!
Bring on Doom Over London 2017.
Jules Throne 