UK stoner/doom metal band WALL came back with their sophomore EP "Vol. 2" out at the end of last month, following up on their debut EP, released a mere seven months ago at the beginning of the year. The band was formed between two twin brothers - Ryan Cole on guitar and bass and Elliot Cole on drums and percussion - who have been international stalwarts of the stoner/doom metal scene since 2007. The pair are a part of the southern stoner metal act DESERT STORM with two EPS, two splits and five full-length albums, the most recent of which was 2020's "Omens" receiving great reviews. But, the prolific pair do not limit themselves stylistically and formed THE GRAND MAL in 2015 with fellow Oxford natives Rob Glenn on bass from MOTHER CORONA and Dave-O also from MOTHER CORONA and MY DIABLO on vocals. That group would drop their self-titled debut in October of 2019 but would lean more into grunge while maintaining the elements of sludge, southern and stoner metal that the members were known for.

The twin's latest project WALL was conceived as a response to pandemic lockdowns that would become a staple of the year 2020. Elliot and Ryan, becoming bored by the inability to play live and meet with people, fueled their boredom into a creative outlet. Their self-titled debut five track EP - released through longtime collaborators APF Records - dropped on January 15^th of 2021 and was filled to the brim with Tony Iommi-inspired instrumental doom-laden sludge metal. In case the references were lost on the younger viewers, the BLACK SABBATH influence manifested physically with a stoner cover of the band's "Electric Funeral", the only track with vocals ably provided by THE GRAND MAL's Dave-O. As a continuation to this experiment, Vol. 2 builds on their first EP, seemingly stepping up the groove metal sensibilities and features another cover. This time it's in honor of friend Will Mecum who passed away in May with a cover of his band KARMA TO BURN's "Nineteen". Of the tribute the Cole brothers wrote, "We recorded it a few months ago in lockdown as a way of saying thanks, and showing our appreciation for one of our favorite bands - true pioneers of the genre and an inspiration to many. It feels right to share it now with the sad news of his passing. It's been an honor knowing you, Will. Rest in peace."

While I didn't think there needed to be much of change in the band's sound as I really enjoyed WALL's first EP, I can already hear a bit of maturation in just the short couple of months on "Vol. 2". Opening track "Avalanche" comes in swinging with fuzzed out, heavy guitars, quick and fast but in quickly establishing a change in the band's sound, it gets quiet in the middle. Clean guitars tinkle out a haunting melody before the distortion kicks back in but continues the slower mood to the end, leaving you woozy from the experience. "Tusk" is more riff-laden, chuggy and grungy, but still fuzzy and lower-registered. This is much more of what the band is known for and they do it well. "Speed Freak" gave me METALLICA vibes but not the classic METALLICA we know and love, it reminds me more of that time when James Hetfield wanted to feel more relevant, cut his hair and sang about cars. In other words, it's got a very "Fuel" vibe and 90's heavy thrash feeling rolled into one, perfect for blasting out on the open road from a hot rod. But it's "Falling from the Edge of Nowhere" - the short final track at the end of the EP - that really shows a band loosening up and experimenting with slide guitar, strange sounding instruments and hypnotic sounds. With lockdowns lifting in some places, I worry that the twins will abandon the project, but I do hope to hear news of a new WALL EP - maybe titled "Vol. 3" - in early 2022.