Year : 2020
Style : Epic Heavy Metal , Female vocals
Country : Canada
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 87 mb
Bio:
Formed in 2013 in Toronto, Canada.Epic heavy doom in the tradition of Gates of Slumber, Solitude Aeternus, Blind Guardian, and Reverend Bizarre.Smoulder play a triumphant hybrid of epic power doom and traditional metal in the tradition of Tales of Medusa, Gates of Slumber, and Solitude Aeternus. Fantastical heroes yielding mystic swords and arcane sorcery await...
Album:
Another (red-haired) "devil" baby spawned forth this past (full mooned) Friday the Thirteenth, alongside likes of Ambush, Dexter Ward and good ole Wolf, is Toronto's quaintly epic and ever-rocking, in a Tanith-mixed with-Castle, Christian Mistress-and-Wytch Hazel (type) mien, Smoulder, with successive, not to mention "technically" tri-tricked, EP entitled Dream Quest Ends. While not quite as copiously - read not "coquettishly" - laden and/or rich as actual 2019 debut full-length album Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring, this latent Canadian trad (with minute doom element) metal worthy assuages middle-of the (high) road inclinations of an evilly obscene, and, say, dauntingly feral, nature...Knave's soliloq(uy) aside, Smoulder's latest effort, however sparse, comprises a pair of originals in the slowly burning and churning "Dream Quest Ends" proper, and slightly longer "Warrior Witch of Hell", an innocuously woven Vanilla Road cover in "Cage of Mirrors", and, somewhat carelessly, entire 2018 demo The Sword Woman...well, not so much, considering I actually prefer said EP's second part, which commences in most cryptic, Hessian-styled, bitter manner, riff-wise, to tune of possible disco(graphy) fave, uh, "Sword Woman" (-- more on such, sooneth!).For time being/seeing (i.e. in regards to both "new", opening tracks), am also commanded, ever-so, by "Warrior Witch of Hell", although must admit, the cool down period in myst of title track, roughly three minutes in, apports regulating balance to an already stoically unwavering, short-tempo'd momentum. Strangely, or rather, fortuitously, warrior queen Sarah Ann's soulful and poignantly drawn-out vocal inflections simultaneously match, as well as drive, the slow-y musicianship, throughout first couple of songs, yet with such utmost urgency and solemnity in her voice, this contrasting paradox remains essential feature. In other words, the music itself, while great, isn't worth sailing over Moon for compared to front lady's evocative, highly atmospheric, mystical stance (at times, askance).In fact, overall, am reminded of mash-up between various femme fatales, such as A Sound of Thunder's Nina Osegueda, Blood Ceremony's Alia O'Brien, and Zix's (now excommunicated) Maya Khairallah. And, stupid as this may sound, thanks to twin guitar ru(m)ination of Fer de Lance's Colin Wolf and Ezra Brooks' Shon Vincent, nominally at far east of "Warrior Witch of Hell's" progressive behest, and yonder, even, am tossed into violet, albeit none-too violent, swirling cauldron of synesthesia ruled power metal bliss, but of a dramatic, albeit mellow and still palatable, countenance (as opposed to reedy, contrived, sippy one!).Here, in fairness, am no giant (leap) Manilla Rd. fan, so cannot rightly comment on "Cage of Mirrors" reprise; to be sure, had it not been indic(a)ted, would have fell - head, not heels - over as par-for-the-horse Smoulder original. Pursuing redundant continuum, 2x-ed and livelier "Voyage of the Sunchaser", in addition to gloomy, doom-metal-ish, minor key tinged brooder/closer (as well as longest track excluding MR cover) "The Queen Is Gone", wraps things up with (flaming) bow -- so much for second show!...Oh, (w)rapping down line-up, rhythmically, notably within "Sunchaser Voyagin'" bogy, is bass Adam Blake and American-O skins man Kevin Hester (from Land of Lincoln Olirin).To think, it's kinda sly on mine behalf to rate Smoulder's controversially edited Dream Quest Ends EP this amiably, whence taking stock of fact it'd rated much lower - say early 70s, (like Pop's heyday) - if just first couple of shmoozers were laid on (flat) board...Thusly, it goes without s(l)aying "Sword Woman" has tons to do with it. Visually interactive - and sporting - lyrics, notwithstanding, I hold this Amazonian gem in similarly rocketing esteem as Corsair's indelibly catchy "Warrior Woman", although, of a more diversified, but no-less gripping and returnable, disposition. Following the extensively travelling, quasi-Arabesque soloing, dig this valedictory verse-al humdinger: "My sisters bend above their looms/And gnaw their moody crumbs/But I ride forth in silk and steel/To follow the phantom drums". Oj!(Not only is it a certain crow(d)-pleaser, but invariably demonstrates our valorous songstress' finest point; namely crushingly inflected, soul-grabbing chants...Nary is there [any] doubt!)Again, as inferred, this latent EP hovers in half-mooted (not muted) state, since latter cuts earned fifteen minutes of fame, already, with 'aforementioned - and now potentially notorious - demo. To put things in somewhat brighter and more succinct fashion, consider it diametric opposite of, ah, Death Rides A Horse's 2017 [partial] jewel Tree of Woe, of which Inferno Records CD version detracts from general appeal, precisely due to pre-production i.e. demo inclusion/absorption. *We're we to strictly reek of digital (format) striations - a Hooves Child Records cassette version, withal - would completely disregard un-included final three songs.**See "additional notes" regarding various promo gyfts, in accordance to media-type..."I sell my sword, to the highest bidder To ride with my brethren With shining steel by my side Crush the traitors and revel, in their cries!" *Battle-starved lass on cover faces similar, not to mention seemingly unsurmountable, challenge of attaining far-flung castle walls as Meurtrières' escoffion veiled, sword wielding, arse-crippling gal...Fantasy World (summit) woes, or summat!
Line Up:
Sarah Ann - Vocals
Collin Wolf - Guitars - See also: Fer de Lance, Olórin, ex-Angelust, ex-Hrafnskald, ex-Akashah (live), ex-Thunderslave (live)
Shon Vincent Guitars - See also: Ezra Brooks, Gatekrashör, ex-Hrom, ex-Manacle
Adam Blake - Bass (2018-present)
Kevin Hester - Drums - See also: Olórin, ex-Hrafnskald
Tracklist:
01. Dream Quest Ends 05:32
02. Warrior Witch of Hel 05:54
03. Cage of Mirrors (Manilla Road cover) 08:43
04. Sword Woman (Demo 2018) 05:17
05. Voyage of the Sunchaser (Demo 2018) 05:32
06. The Queen Is Gone (Demo 2018) 06:02
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
