First doom cauldron of this 2024, which in reality has already scored some good shots but above all awaits others, announced, to be awaited with reasonable trepidation. Today, two of our recent acquaintances and a return of veterans of a European stoner wave that responded more than twenty years ago to the explosion of the tour in America. Three pleasant listens, three records that perhaps don’t deserve particular attention. Certainly not infamy, on the contrary. Gentlemen, here are the new albums from Daevar, The Quill and Friends of Hell.
I was waiting, I won’t say anxiously, ok, but with a bit of expectation for the Germans DAEVAR, after the more than good Debut EP. Philo that of the disciples of the Windhandin short, the same territory as our locals Haunted (by the way, ready for the new album coming out soon?). Expectations partly unfulfilled by this debut album, Amber Eyeseven if it comes in good clothes: a magnificent orientalist cover (like the one by Close, no?). The content doesn’t give off as much mystery. Indeed, it seems to be sitting comfortably on a repetitive formula, between feminine doom, grunge and dream pop. The style lends itself to interesting developments, very much so. Except that Daevar don’t seem to have made the necessary step between EP and album. It remains a more than pleasant listen to Amber Eyes. By playing a lot with the atmosphere the three Germanics manage to release the necessary dreamlike layer. Riffs and songs are still a little behind, for now. There is room for improvement, but what there is is enough to still keep the focus on the Daevars, awaiting future developments.
Return also for the Swedish veterans THE QUILL, which even if they seem to be placed in the exact center of gravity between doom, stoner and 70s hard rock, are actually a little more unbalanced in the direction of the latter. Veterans and honest mannerists. Wheel of illusion it’s a good album in style, with good riffs and pleasant songs, between Led Sabbath and Black Zeppelin. There are no particular flashes, the sound is not heavy, not exactly retro but not very modern either, neither guitar nor voice offer overflowing soloisms or performances of particular personality. Wheel of Illusion it is the medium disc par excellence. You don’t want to stop listening, nor do you want to start listening again once you’ve finished. I admit, I tend to prefer discs that are clearly smaller, but with greater character, to average discs. But if on the one hand this mediocrity is a consequence of not being musicians of particular genius or talent, on the other it is the result of conscious and good level work on production, sound, choice of inspirations and their transcription into song form. And I don’t think it’s worth blaming The Quill for it. However, if you are a completionist of certain sounds, the record deserves a few trips to the car stereo.
And those beautiful people are back too FRIENDS OF HELLwhich we had talked about instead here. Except that two of that line-up remain, the Cypriot Tasos Danazoglou on drums (Electric Wizard) and the Finnish Taneli Jarva on bass (Sentenced, Impaled Nazarene), via a legend like Albert Witchfinder who gave a strong imprint to the group’s music. I don’t know why. Inside instead, on guitar and in Cypriot quota, Nikolas Moutafis (March to Die And Solitary Sabred) and above all two other pieces of international importance: from Brazil Beelzeebubth by Mystifier on the other guitar and vocals the Swedish Hellbutcher dei Nifelheim. Obviously the music changes, what do you do? Reverend Bizarre now he owes a little less. The original doom mixes both with epic metal and with the old 80s metal, the dirty one that resists classification. On paper, it’s cool. In reality I’ll tell you, the album is good but it doesn’t have too much personality. We adore the Goat, we get some choruses right and there are some good pieces. The album is a pleasure to listen to. Is titled God Damned You to Hell and Rise Above publishes it, so the amount of old glories involved is remarkable. Sober cover, video with Edwige Fenech. I think today I woke up particularly demanding and a pain in the ass. And I think that this Friends of Hell disk could instead prove itself as guilty pleasure of the year. (Lorenzo Centini)
