Grotesque Offerings
Druid Lord
•
January 20, 2018
"Grotesque Offerings" is a Horror Doom album that is made by fans of Horror that will paint a picture through the music, leaving you unsure what you saw, but interested in seeing it again.
DRUID LORD return after 8 years from 2010's 'Hymns For The Wicked' with their next Doom soaked submission: "Grotesque Offerings." This time recorded with Hells Headbangers. New drummer Elden Santos comes whilst still doing his duties for Metalcore Orland based RING OF SCARS. The Druid Death Cult have become restless, so the Horror Loving Death Doom foursome have responded to their cult. With this. They must have watched a lot of Horror-based TV in the years between the albums, as every track has the title that could be a Horror Film. Night Gallery is also an American Anthology TV Series featuring stories of Horror.
For those who have hard Druid Lord before, "Night Gallery" has a distinctive similarity in some of their previous songs. The slow speed of Doom mixing with the Drone Death pace once more comes together with Deep, grizzly raw vocals from Blakk. The sound is a lot more distorted than previous, but strangely seems like it's meant to be there, not natural occurrence like previous. Blakk has a more Death Metal approach mid-song. The guitars are cleaner, less Sludge and more Death Metal with more holding solos than previously heard. Making more an unprecedented but intriguing mix. "Spells of the Necromancer" opens up with an Intro from Herbert Lom as Van Helsing and Sir Christopher Lee as Count Dracula, respectfully, in Bram Stoker's 'Count Dracula'. The guitar takes off just before the clip has ended, to allow the rhythm to sync in well. This is an instrumental melody, unlike anything the Death Doom band has given us before.
"Evil That Haunts This Ground" hits hard straight away, the return of Sludge aspect is plain to hear. The dark, unclear vocals allow further melody to build. The Death Metal clean guitar is back again, not too many outbursts through the Doom beat. It's like a Lightning Storm, its heavy-set clouds from the Bass with a few Lightning Strikes, but the Doom Thunder is always there. There are a few slow Doom hits during the play, with some Black Metal laughter in the background. The song doesn't seem to have a direction in where it is heading at times, but it works well nonetheless.
6 / 10
Had Potential
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Grotesque Offerings" Track-listing:
1. House of Dripping Gore
2. Night Gallery
3. Spells of the Necromancer
4. Evil That Haunts This Ground
5. Black Candle Séance
6. Creature Feature
7. Into the Crypts
8. Murderous Mr. Hyde
9. Last Drop of Blood
10. Final Resting Place
Druid Lord Lineup:
Tony Blakk - Lead Vocals & Bass
Ben Ross - Rhythm Guitar
Pete Slate - Lead Guitar
Elden Santos - Drums
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