Ah another day when your very ‘eavy, very ‘umble scribe turns round to find everyone else has walked forward while I’ve walked sideways. Hmm.
This six tracker from relatively new but productive Berlin band Praise The Plague is sent PR wrapped in the banner of black/doom and I guess opener ‘The Descent’ does a fair impression of that: Wall of noise riffing, vocals howled into the teeth of the storm and a slow winding melody for that doomy atmosphere. The follow up ‘The Blackening Swarm II’ as well. And then then third track ‘Great Collapse’ with spoken word intro seems to do the same until it goes quiet and suddenly I know what I’m thinking of again for the remainder of this album. Just like with another recent band I’m transported to a festival with an overload of post metal/sludge hybrids that just wash over me. If it comes down to the slight differences in timbre between the vocal styles, snarl versus howl, then you know these sub-genres have irrevocably collided at this edge.
Should this matter? No. Of course not. It bloody doesn’t. But just as I rapidly got sick of post rock/metal bands nicking black metal riffs and still sounding like dull post metal bands, I am sadly coming to the conclusion that the majority of the bands like Praise The Plague are just not for me.
However, let’s be objective now. This band are certainly a fine act. They work really well together here and clearly not only know their way round their instruments but know exactly what they want to sound like and how to arrange their sound. They are a highly impressive unit, to be frank. I also dare say that some will find them very atmospheric in the way they use melody. If unlike me you enjoyed the recent Mannveira album, seriously give this a go. I doubt it will disappoint in the slightest. The same if you eat up sludge/doom at every sitting.
There is nothing here to not like for you.
However, if like me you share an increasing weariness with this style and only the exceptional or unusual grab you then be wary. Personally, I found little to distinguish this from other bands of this ilk other than the fact as musicians in a band they impressed me. It didn’t grab me, it took me nowhere and it eventually felt simply like a wave washing over me and leaving me on the shore as it retreated into the ocean.
From other reviews I am very much in a minority here, so bear that and my own perception and opinion outlined above before you either dismiss them or jump on them. I mean, hey, give them a listen if you have the time just in case. But if not, well that’s my thoughts and all I have.
(5/10 Gizmo)
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