Since the early 80's when bands like Cathedral and Saint Vitus pioneered the "doom" genre of metal, the style has continuously evolved and spread, despite being far less recognized and appreciated than most other forms of more traditional heavy metal. Bands like Eyehategod and Crowbar melded elements of doom into sludge and stoner metal, gaining modest success in the more mainstream metal community, but doom is beginning to enjoy a new wave of popularity, thanks largely to the more progressive experimental work of artists like Stephen O'Malley (Sunn0))), Burning Witch). Indian is a Chicago-based trio whose brand of doom is more akin to that of Eyehategod than the earliest or latest incarnations of the genre, and their distinctively black metal vocals immediately set them apart from the pack.
First things first: The Unquiet Sky is everything a doom record should be. The bass tone is so perfect and intense that it could shake your body through a pair of headphones. The guitars bring Black Sabbath-esque fuzz down enough notches to kill a horse. The percussion is sparse when it needs to be ("Ration") and energetic when it's allowed ("Tied and Gagged"). Dylan O'Toole's vocals give Indian the extra edge over many of the other bands who have perfected this formula by complementing the melancholy created by the music with a demonic voice of evil. There is even an extended track of terrifyingly psychedelic feedback, perfectly placed to scare the crap out of you when you're high. In fact, the only thing that fails to be suitably doom-y and evil about this record is the cover illustration of a Christ-like baboon which, despite being evil enough in spirit, looks a bit too much like it was drawn in a junior high art class.
This record is an easy recommend for fans of the "doom" genre, but what about anyone unacquainted with the genre I personally don't consider myself a huge aficionado of the style, but loved this record. The only things required to enjoy The Unquiet Sky are an attention span and a love of all things metal. This record generally moves slowly, as does most doom, but it is far less droning and repetitive than many recent examples of the genre. As the name of the style suggests, doom is, by its very nature, dark, oppressive music. As such, Indian is definitely better suited to being digested over an extended period of time at high volumes, rather than short bursts in your car or through headphones.
Bottom Line: If you're searching for the latest, greatest doom record to add to your collection, look no further than Indian's The Unquiet Sky. Fans of Neurosis, Eyehategod and Godflesh should also definitely pick this up. It's a solid record from beginning to end from an up-and-coming trio of doom virtuosos. |
