It is possible when you hear the words 'Malta' and 'Doom Metal' your mind will go to FORSAKEN and both of these things are here. NOMAD SON explores those dark realms having for bassist Albert Bell. The band started as a jam group with the four members of Hard Rock band FRENZY MONO after the exhortation of their producer David Vella of Temple Studio. He was who made the contact with the bassist of FORSAKEN and after some rehearsals it was more than clear that the recipe was successful.
The Italian label Metal On Metal offered them the chance and the debut First Light is here two years since their formation. Almost slow music, Doom with a plethora of background keys in the vein of DEEP PURPLE and URIAH HEEP, they manage to mix very heavy guitars a la CANDLEMASS and BLACK SABBATH with an eerie, more 70s warmth inside. Really impressive are the hard timbre vocals reminding a lot of the ultimate voice of David Wayne or the lower scales of Bobby Lucas. Jordan Cutajar has varied dynamics, highly expressive forms and generally one of the highlights of this album is surely his vocals.
Most of the songs are good to really bombastic. The first three ones are really fantastic, Forever Twilight starts doomy and rusty and is enriched with a powerful riff that will raise your interest immediately. The almost hypnotic and dark parts of Shallow Grave and Seven Notes In Black together with their perfect refrains show clear the high capability of NOMAD SON, their artistic imagination and inspiration. Delirium is an instrumental complete obscure keyboard song that opens the gates for At The Thresholds Of Consciousness a 100% pure Doom cut. The last one, The Light At The End, wins our sympathy with a Solitude or Planet Caravan aesthetics.
A good choice if you like Doom Metal, or albums like Fused from Toni Iommi and Glenn Hughes which is the most close I can think this moment for First Light. And: another good release for Metal On Metal Records, including also a nice booklet and cover.