TOMBS
Winter Hours
RelapseTrack listing:
01. Gossamer
02. Golden Eyes
03. Beneath The Toxic Jungle
04. Great Silence
05. Story Of A Room
06. Divide
07. Merrimack
08. Filled With Secrets
09. Seven Stars Of The Angel Of Death
10. Old Dominion
In another example of the hype matching reality, Brooklyn's TOMBS have created a monster with Relapse debut, "Winter Hours". The whole noise-meets-shoegaze-meets-pummel thing does not always work for me (usually because one aspect is pushed to the front at the expense of another, resulting in a watered-down effect). But once in a while a band finds the illusive G-spot; the puzzle blowing up, then the pieces falling into place again. On "Winter Hours", TOMBS has gone a long way toward locating that elusive and mysterious part of the musical anatomy.
As much as I hate to mention what is probably the most overused reference point in music journalism any time a band is even remotely unconventional in structure and hypnotic in feeling, there is an underlying NEUROSIS quality to "Winter Hours". Just like there is a flowing ISIS vibe. But that is mainly because of the space-dust that covers everything (not to mention the atmospheric guitar lines that ring out on an instrumental interlude like "Story of a Room").
Yet this is no exercise is marathon atmospherics, nor is it a cure for insomnia. At 37 minutes in length, "Winter Hours" is far more about the heavy and crushes with the weight of a bull elephant stampede, never taking a detour into nowhere land. Songs like "Beneath the Toxic Jungle" is equal parts blast beaten intensity and black metal-tinged tremolo-picked guitar melody. The guitar work approaches the dissonant at times, but never reaches too far for it, as exemplified by "Golden Eyes", a song that moves between extreme punishment and steady bulldoze. In fact, there are just as many moments that attack with the weight of a HIGH ON FIRE or even a LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR, the combination of all facets (the blackened, the sludge-o-pheric, the blasting) probably best evidenced on "Filled with Secrets". The organic drumming of Justin Ennis is just plain thunderous — his is the engine that really drives the arrangements.
Yes indeed, TOMBS drives the nail with one mighty blow of the hammer. "Winter Hours" is not indicative of a band that has hit its peak; there is plenty of room to expand and perfect the craft. TOMBS' opening salvo is an impressive one though. Imagine the possibilities for the next release.