A shorter EP roundup this time, with just two releases for tomorrow. However, both are fantastic collections of music, so let’s dive into them!
The Fires Below: Thorns
The sophomoric EP of the UK-based stoner/doom/desert hard rock band follows on rather masterfully from last year’s Masquerade. To the point where, honestly, it feels like a continuation or ‘part 2’. It’s heavy, grungy and yet still has a catchy edge to it that hooks you in almost immediately. It feels like somehow the perfect combination of Candlemass and the heavier end of Queens of the Stone Age’s discography. Songs like ‘No Man’s Land’ and the title track are big highlights. However, if you are a fan of any of the styles of music this band are likened to, you’ll most likely love every track here. I already can’t wait to hear more from the band, and would love to hear how they do with a full album. I also desperately need to hear these songs live! The band feel fresh and interesting, but still have an air of familiarity to them that will do them well in the coming months/years after this release. It gets an 8/10 from me!
DISLIMN: Esmee
The French proggy doom band are set to release their debut EP on Friday. And damn, it’s nothing if not interesting. From the more cleaner, post-grunge opening song, to the heavy, doomy riffing of the latter half of ‘Esmee’s Story’, to the all out heaviness of ‘In My Mind’, it’s a real journey of a listen. Heck, they also throw an insane instrumental in the middle of this in ‘Gullfoss’, some of the best guitar soloing I’ve heard in a long while ripping through it. There is no denying their talent and creativity. The band squeezed so many different styles and influences into such a short release, and kept it constantly interesting. Every track on it is amazing too, with the closing two being maybe my favourites. Heck, the closer is amazing and almost reminds me of a Ward XVI track. It’s certainly not gonna be for everyone, but I really enjoyed it. I cannot wait to hear where they go from here, and really hope we get a full length release in the near future so they can spread their wings from a writing standpoint. For now, it gets an easy 9/10 from us!