Throughout Sourvein’s long and colourful history, spanning more than 20 years, founding member, T-Roy, has fought to keep the band together amidst personal drama and seemingly endless line-up changes. When you look at albums such as ‘Will to Mangle’ and ‘Black Fangs’ this seems like an extraordinary feat, as both of these records hit like a sucker punch to the gut. So it makes you wonder what had to have gone so terribly wrong for fourth and newest full length ‘Aquatic Occult’ to be such a monumental flop.
Before you even press play, this presents itself as an odd record; a concept album about the trials and tribulations of living under the sea, featuring guest musicians Mike Dean and Reed Mullin (Corrosion of Conformity) and Randy Blythe (Lamb of God). Sorry, but unless you’re the fictional band Dethklok then underwater songs just aren’t going to work, especially if you play in a sludge band. And while the inclusion of CoC members is definitely a good shout, the guest appearances should probably have ended there – the frontman of one of the most current mainstream metalcore bands has no place contributing anything (of worth, at least) to a Sourvein album.
‘Aquatic Occult’ is the sort of record that you can jump into at literally any point and you won’t notice a difference – it doesn’t really seem to go anywhere in the sense that each of the 14 songs sound exactly the same. Despite its fairly middle of the road length, it manages to make 42 minutes feel like 42 hours and you’ll find yourself clock watching while listening to this, waiting for the ordeal to be over.
It’s not all bad, however, there are brief glimpses of some genuinely solid riffs and the occasional vocal that really hits the spot, however, it’s not enough to place any one song above another in terms of monotony. This album feels like a huge shame for both fans and T-Roy as both have invested so much in Sourvein. For a band of their notoriety, this is not the album that they or their fans deserve. This is more of a damp squib than anything else.
(4/10 Angela Davey)
07/04/2016 at 8:38 am
I’ve yet to listen to the album, but the review had me grinning linke a loon. Well written Ms Davey; I tip you my hat.
07/04/2016 at 4:35 pm
Your a jackass and you suck as a writer. Go back to working at the coffee shop. Lame reviews you wanna be cool huh.dumb ass hipster
08/04/2016 at 7:44 am
Sour Grapes from North Carolina thanks for your feedback.
Hopefully the next barista to make you a cuppa won’t spit in it.
08/04/2016 at 9:56 pm
To quote Ron Burgundy… “Well, That escalated Quickly!!”
09/04/2016 at 6:48 pm
To be honest, what I’ve heard of this record, I think it’s fucken killer. what I’ve seen in reaction to the review is childish.
Come on guys, have conviction in the music, don’t belittle it by insecurity. It’s one persons opinion, wind your fuckin necks in and rise above petty squabbling.