Astronomie - Interstellar Nomad

Astronomie is a Australian doom/sludge band that formed in 2017. Believe it or not, 'Interstellar Nomad,' is their first album. The album is unusually super tight and focused for a debut album---I was surprised at how young the band is, in terms of formation. 

If I didn't know any better, I'd say they have been playing together for longer and would say it isn't possible that 'Interstellar Nomad' is their debut! 

Their sound is on the heavier side---and by heavier, I mean straight up bone crushing. The music lays down huge, thick doom toned riffs with the rough gravitational destruction of sludge.

The album consists of riffs, riffs, riffs, riffs, riffs, and more riffs. Oh by the way, this album has a lot of riffs. Ok, I'm done. Riffs. Ahem. Groovy, sweltering, stoner and even some psych reverberate off the strings. Even better, each riff is memorable and infectious as hell.  Kenny, Bean, and Glen all play their asses on across the seven tracks.   The guitar solos are all very memorable, off the wall a bit but with just enough flash to make them stand out. 

But the guitars aren't the only saviors. Indeed, the whole band brings it hard. The bass is groovy as a really groovy thing but Kenny goes total ape mode and destroys just fine on its own.  He definitely makes the album that much more heavy and full. 

Every good bass needs a good drummer, right? Well Astronomie have a great bassist and a great drummer. Android's drums are interesting, exciting and provide a most excellent and unmovable foundation that doom must have.

Most people, myself included, don't listen to doom/sludge for the vocal prowess. I love vocals and prefer them in music but how many in this genre are actually good? Most are there to serve the music, and that is fine, but Astronomie have very capable vocalists.  James is the lead vocalist and his lungs shout out clean, concise vocal tones that are huge yet smooth and easy to sing alongside.  He honestly reminds me of Ozzy at times except way less nasal and with more emotion.  Anna provides additional/backing vocals and she sounds wonderful too.  I hope for future releases she will be utilized more! 

The album opens with 'The Infinite' and light, quiet tones that last only a moment before the riffs drop like bombs. I immediately began headbanging---this is a common factor with the album as a whole.  It rocks so hard, you'll need a chiropractor by the end of it.  This song is slow to mid paced---just how doom of this style should be.  The whole ride is just groovy and catchy.  The chorus is really amazing too!

The title track is another highlight.  The bass tones dig deep from the first second as clean guitar joins in before the headbanging commences once more!  This main riff is one of the best on the album and I cannot get it out of my head, though I don't want to anyway!  The rhythm of the vocal matches the song perfectly and just goes to show this band is firing on all cylinders, all the time. 

'Moondozer,' is as heavy as the moon and perpetually moving forward like a bulldozer.  The fuzz is strong with this one and if you have a decent pair of headphones, jamming this song will make your head feel like it is both imploding and expanding at the same time.  Crazy good stuff here and one of the heaviest songs I've heard this second half of the year in non-extreme metal.  

'Sea of Thirst' is black hole heavy.  You don't know what that means?  Listen to the song and you'll understand.  The bass is just dripping with such heavy notes that I thought they would grab me and suck me inside a dimension of non stop rocking.  Oh wait, that IS what this song/album is.  The drums are exceptional here, holding down the foundation while forging a path that makes the ears focus on each part of the song as the rhythm brings it all back together. 

'Interstellar Nomad' is obviously a very impressive debut album.  Astronomie is this good already?  I can only imagine what future releases will bring.  I will definitely be waiting very impatiently for more music from them!  Any fan of doom/stoner/sludge and anything fitting under that massive umbrella needs to jump on this.