Ampire
BongBongBeerWizards
The EPK contained only the songs and artwork, so I had to turn to The Metal Archives to find some information on the band. What I discovered is that they are a Drone/Doom/Stoner Metal band from Germany, formed in 2017. "Ampire" is the band's second release, and contains three lengthy songs.
"Choirs & Masses" is the first of three. It's a massive, 23-minute track. A fuzzy and lumbering guitar riff opens the song, combined with a spooky ambient background. Bass joins in, and the song just gets darker and more depressing. Approaching the half way mark, the eeriness begins to crescendo, with crashing cymbals, and then it retreats to just low, thuds of the bass guitar. Like footsteps of a massive beast, it moves behind you, as you are frozen and cannot move. He trudges towards you and all you can do is take a few last breaths. "Unison" is a 14-minute opus, beginning again with those same heavy thuds from the guitars, bass and drums. Vocals come in, but they are much more of a supporting role than in the forefront. Unfortunately, the sound in this song is much like the other. It continues with this earth bashing sound until the final three minutes, which are clean and melancholy.
"Slumber" closes the album. It begins with outer space like sounds and synths which give it an eerie quality, even more so that the other two songs. Bass guitar enters, and thuds away in a mesmerizing rhythm. The riff is both powerful and magnanimous. The sky begins to clear around the half-way mark, with a hastier sound. Some vocal shouts come in the background, as the song heads to completion. Overall, this was a decent album through three tracks of sticky, goopy, and quicksand like sinking, which are all the good elements you want in a Doom Metal album. Although the sound did not change much from song to song, the weighted accents they hit make it memorable. The band might as well not have a vocalist, however, as he really only sings a few lines.
7 / 10
Good
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Ampire" Track-listing:
1. Choirs & Masses
2. Unison
3. Slumber
BongBongBeerWizards Lineup:
Bong Travolta - Synths, Guitar
Chill Collins - Vocals, Drums
Reib Asnah - Vocals, Bass
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