I don’t know if it’s just me but I have the sneaking suspicion that true doom (or traditional if you like) is doing its phoenix act again and rising from a death like slumber to avoid association with other sub-genres annexing the ‘doom’ word. Just the odd band poking their grimly bowed heads above the parapet to raise the banner once more. Just in the last three weeks I’ve had Yorkshire’s own Wolves In Winter gear up for an album release and now Durham new band Nine Altars.
I say ‘new’ but like Wolves In Winter there is pedigree membership here; namely on vocals and drums Kat Shevil Gillham of the thunderous Thronehammer, Uncoffined, Winds Of Genocide, Enshroudment, Morstice and probably a dozen more I don’t know about. Details are slightly scant but other members include Nicolete Burbach from Uncoffined and Charlie Wesley from Enshroudment on guitars and one Jamie Thomas on bass. Also as this is true doom, Kat’s vocals are entirely her rich clean style which is cool to hear.
Thirteen-minute opener, The Eternal Penance, is pure doom; that slow, penitent procession like pace with a slow steady riff full of mournful melody and clear, strong vocals. It has such a deep Solitude Aeturnus vibe to it, too: The relentless grim tune, the heavy step of the pace all taking me back to the heyday of the genre. It has a little rawness to the production but still manages an epic feel that just envelopes me.
Ok, this is class.
‘The Fragility Of Existence’ has a little more fuzz to the riff that builds a huge foundation. Sabbath, Saint Vitus and Revelation stirred into just a huge tugging riff with the kind of subtle hooks that only doom can sink in. This is just awesome. It warms my withering soul just to hear this truly downbeat sound of the riff and the voice, the unexpected melodic veins between guitar and voice. Lyrics of impending death, a sound that oddly reminds me of early Doomshine here and there with its guitar sound and break before it winds the riff back up. And there I am back in the early nineties but the music still so relevant.
Twelve minutes that just make my doomhead soul shine a little brighter. Oh man… So good to hear proper doom done as it should be. So good.
‘Salvation Lost’ is almost a sprint in comparison initially. A little more Candlemass in the mix with a teeny sprinkle of Maiden in the guitars. It has a vital feel to it, pumping blood like a preacher in full flight and a great way to close.
Coming in at three tracks in a little under thirty five minutes may seem short but for a debut it really works and certainly sticks to the adage of “leave them wanting more’.
Perfectly paced, rich in roots and prowess and with just that indefinable touch that only doom has this is a lovely surprise and a fantastic entrance.
Maybe doom is indeed back on the rise…
Doomheads, you need this.
(8.5/10 Gizmo)
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