Kodiak - Kodiak

Denovali, 2009

1. Beginning
2. End

This is the crushing debut release from three-piece German act Kodiak. It features only 2 tracks yet spans just shy of 40 minutes; opening with such a melancholic cello intro (courtesy of Emelie Molin from Audrey) leading into some of the most vast, downtempo sludge/doom ever.

The mournful lilt of Emelie's cello conjures images and emotions of the passing and procession of royalty, or the embarking of a lonely but glorious expedition, deep into the snow-laden valleys, from the eyes of the wives whom were left behind. If this were a film then the coming of the guitars would herald a shift in scene where we now all but helpless in watching the long, slow struggle and turmoil of our protagonists as they dredge onwards.

Kodiak put a lot of focus on brillliant structural progression, just at a very lethargic pace. The first half, Beginning, may start with sorrowful strings but its 18 minutes builds into thick, destructive doom.

Although maybe not brimming with as much epic as Hyatari, I'd easily classify Kodiak's self titled debut as the most emotion-rich drone I've heard; which is quite an achievement considering it's no more than just deep guitars and drums.

Recommended if:
Becoming tearful over the glory of dredging guitars makes you feel whole.

Similar:

Earth, Khanate, Hyatari

Homepage: www.denovali.com/kodiak
Myspace: www.myspace.com/kodiakdoom
Last.fm: www.last.fm/music/Kodiak

Hyatari - The Light Carriers

Codebreaker, 2005

1. Sheet of Flames

2. Freeform for the Disenfranchised

3. The Light Carriers

4. Fourth Realm

5. 14,000,000,000 Years Ago

6. Harvesting Sod

7. Collapse

Hyatari - whose name is slang for peyote - are a way-above average drone band out of West Virginia, USA. Eschewing the aimless wandering of many drone bands, these guys have a purpose and a goal with their Godflesh-influenced industrial droning: to rattle the bones of the universe until they turn to dust. Just look at those titles! "Sheet of Flames", "14,000,000,000 Years Ago", "Collapse" - you don't get more bloody epic than that!

The first edition of the album was self-released and comprised a single tracks sans titles, but the wider release on Codebreaker has been cut into seven songs; each track marker is in an entirely logical place, but nonetheless the album surges onward without pause in a monolithic 45 minute slab that will smash your face in before pounding the Earth to a bloody pulp.

I'd like to draw attention to the use of dynamics on this album which is, in my opinion, simply brilliant: there are moments when the bass suddenly drops out and leaves a most beautiful feeling of freefalling, and the barely-audible samples buried deep between mountainous guitars really fuck with your mind.

Recommended if:
You've ever wanted to know what the death of the universe would be like but were too scared to go there.

Similar:

Nobody. Seriously.

Homepage: www.hyatari.com (not working as of 04/06/2009)
Myspace: www.myspace.com/hyatari
Last.fm: www.last.fm/music/Hyatari