Back in 2014 there were some fine albums released and one of those managed to beat out big names like AC/DC to get my nod for the album of the year. This album is called “Darkness Died Today” by the Welsh Doom rockers Sigiriya and it still gets regular airtime whenever I put my iPod on and want to listen to some sweet riffs and plenty of sweet doom sounds. Fast forward to 2020, the world is going to shit and nothing makes much sense. Thankfully music has come to the rescue with some solid offerings in these opening 4 months and one of those happens to be an eagerly awaited release by Sigiriya, the Swansea based 4 piece who rose from the ashes of the criminally overlooked Acrimony. Based on their musical history and pedigree, ‘Maiden Mother Chrome’ promises a heap of mountain sized riffs, raw bellowing vocals and some psychedelic tinted grooves. So enough exposition, let’s get down to what could very well be a serious contender for 2020’s album of the year.

The moody sounds of “Mantis” open the album. Slow and steady hypnotic bass-driven grooves lead into a massive wall of guitars, crashing drums and bellowing vocals which have a huge presence. Rhythmically pounding to a hypnotic pulse, the track shows what is a heavier edge to the band’s sound and the subtle exotic flavouring which slips in between the layers and augments the atmosphere just caps it nicely. Following up this solid opening is “Cwn Annwn”, a song title which will net you 11 points in Scrabble and is also a feature of Welsh Folklore; spectral hounds. This track about ghostly dogs certainly does carry an ominous presence and without getting all ‘Meta’ on this, lends some weight to why early British Christians said the Cwn Annwn were actually the hounds of hell. This track’s ominous, stalking presence is fantastic. The powerful vocal work and the slick rhythmic direction of the guitar and basslines with their slick shifts and fills throughout works fantastically. Rich wah pedal tones and strategic deployments of massive sounding reverb help add to the impact and much like a hound stalking its prey, it significantly speeds up for a massive riff driven finish.

“Tau Ceti” is where things really get going on this release. The third track brings vibes from the phenomenal 2014 release ‘Darkness Died Today’ and combines them with this massive sound premiered on the first two tracks. Surging to a head with hypnotic and pounding drums, big slabs of chugging guitars and low rumbling bass surge forth to give a colossal groove driven chorus with slick chord work and some dirty vibrato and pinch harmonic accenting. Lingering notes in the brief interlude section leads to a massive, expressive vocal section which transitions into a flat out rocking moment before it loops round for another pass at the chorus which leads back to the hypnotic intro-like section of the track, this time with some slick Bill Ward-esque drumming and a nice tail off into droning feedback and amplifier hum. If that isn’t the wake up call you need, then “Peace Of My Mind” certainly will be. A powerful riff driven number, it has a slick melodic aspect to the bass progression which twists and turns and the way the guitars ring out, it sometimes feels like there is a subtle Hammond Organ adding an extra touch to boost the chorus. Expressive and dynamic vocals, pounding drums and clever melodic arrangements, this track has everything you want in a Doom rocking number.

“Seeking Eden” is a bright and uplifting number. A rich melodic intro riff surfaces several times throughout the track, providing a good contrast to the thicker and muddier slabs of guitar and bass work. Crisp and clean melodic licks make-up the lead sections, lingering guitars and slick drums help shift the track through transitions between sections and again, those massive vocals dominate the flow. It’s a good halfway point for the album and it sets things up nicely for the final three tracks. “Dark Call” is just out and out heavy rock. Attitude laden with a real bite to the delivery, this 3-minute long number is just groove and riff with some slick bluesy lead work. A good transition towards the final two tracks which are the crowning moments of the album.

“Arise (Darkness Died Today)” starts off with a progression which evokes a sense of familiarity with one of the outro sequences of “Sleeping With Dogs” from the previous release. This familiarity adds to the reflective mood and feel of the track which is expressed musically through a slow and steady paced verse. Smoothly delivered instrumental sections with solid vocals dominate the first part of the track whilst the second part of the track leans more towards a building section which explodes to a big chorus and expressive lead driven finale. It’s a track which rises and falls with its presence and delivery and when it kicks in, it explodes to life, showing the band doing what they do best – big melodic moments and pounding grooves. Closing the album is the epic “Crushed By The Weight Of The Sky”. An 8+ minute number, it is a colossus of a track and the perfect way to close what has been a colossus of an album. With its booming delivery, it lives up to the gigantic presence its title implies. Bringing back the droning elements and atmospheric impact moments, it has an ominous verse before a massive sounding chorus which has some of the best vocal work on the album on display. Massive shouts, ringing chords and sly Hammond Organ augmentation create a vast sound which feels like you can hear it for miles around. Shifts into Sabbathian chord chugging, raw and dirty rock driven riffs and subtle lead melodies buried between the layers, this track has everything you want and so much more on offer, especially with its magnificent closing sequence – a descending progression which ascends the fretboard with each loop it makes and massive vocals on top, creating a massive climax which peaks before it drifts out to an organ drone and amplifier buzz fade out finish.

I could go on and on about this album. It is simply fantastic. It is the kind of release we need right now – powerful, captivating and uplifting whilst at the same time, heavy, smothering and intense. Solid musicianship and vocal work, fantastic sounds and wonderfully finished, It is hard to find fault with this release. Well done boyos, you fookin deserves this!

(10/10 Fraggle)

https://www.facebook.com/sigiriyaofficial

https://burningworldrecords.bandcamp.com/album/maiden-mother-crone-2