I've been asked several times over the years why I review, despite not getting paid for it. While I certainly wouldn't complain if I was getting a payday from writing, there are some things that go beyond pay. Discovering bands I've never heard before is one of them. Case in point is the new split album from doom metal bands Smoke and Doomsday Profit.
Prior to receiving this promo, I was unfamiliar with both bands. Well, consider me a fan because this split album flat out rocks. The best splits combine bands that are within the same style to complement each other while being different enough that it doesn't seem derivative.
That's exactly what this split delivers. Both bands are planted firmly in the stoner/doom/metal/rock pantheon but their delivery of the genre is different. Each groups are relatively young to the scene, each of them having a full-length and this split under their belt. I think it’s a clever idea for the next release of each to be one they tackle together. Both bands get three songs each, and runtime that isn’t too far off from each other, so the split does fairly divide them so they each get ample time to display their craft.
Smoke is definitely the most hazy of the two. The atmosphere across their songs are smoky, a little mysterious and blues influenced. As evident with the opening song, “Appalachian Black Magic,” the songs unfurl in a natural way, subtly building up energy as the notes play through the fog. Around the 2:20 mark, the riffs kick in and blast away like a modern take on classic doom–heavy, thick, bluesy, and just groovy enough.
“Scavenger,” is a much more immediate song, the guitar kicking off the distortion right away. The main riff is trippy and the bass/drums offers that all important heavy low end to keep it grounded. The vocals trade haze for an energetic cadence, spat through a filter. The whole thing works very well, the vintage feel to the song is palpable. A surprising little twist with killer screams graces the mid section before the song goes into kill mode with a slow, crushing groove that is monstrous and inescapable.
The song title “Hellish Rebuke,” suggests the band might offer a total banger for their last song…and they do! I love the trippy groove and the sharp, crisp drums that push the song into some of the best riffs on the split. Another scream pierces the veil, just before a passage that has some minimalist, psyche elements to it. It builds up again with the guitars and bass bringing a wide and deep riff under it.
I really like what Smoke offers for their half of the split and will definitely be checking out that full-length and keeping my ears open for them. Their music is heavy when needed but their brand of stoner doom is also somewhat ethereal and mysterious—they just have a very cool sound and a great thing going.
Doomsday Profit offers elements of the stoner genre but their path to it is a lot more direct and intense. Oftentimes the vocals are pretty abrasive, a throaty hell that scrapes and cuts on its way out. Their music is punchy and massive, with hints of sludge mixed about. With that being said, they can be subtle and less abrasive when needed. Much like Smoke, their music isn’t only one dimensional and offers much to explore.
Their opening song, “No Salvation,” spends a few seconds with low, clean tones before sweltering riffs, hard drumming, and those loud, powerful vocals bring the band out in full force. The lead guitar laces the song with its own psyche elements, a mind fuck against the heavier instruments. This song is slow, lumbering, and sounds like the collapse of society. There isn’t anything to do other than face the fear and let it happen.
“I Am Your God,” opens with a killer groove and chanting clean vocals. The heavy screams work great with the destitute nature of the guitar as the song switches back to the clean vocals. The guitar is unique, displaying light at the end of the tunnel…that belongs to a speed freight train coming right at your face.
Their final song, “Void Ritual” is my favorite of the three—it begins and ends crushing. Around the 3 minute mark, the song takes a surprisingly atmospheric turn. This part is deep and expansive, everything just being absorbed into it as it moves on through like some kind of force of nature. The segue back into the heavy riffs is masterfully done and brings the song back full circle–a devastating circle that’s on fire.
Doomsday Profit will have to be explored more on my end as well and I can’t wait to see what they do in the future. Both of these bands have delivered an excellent split album that offers as much content as a lot of full-lengths. Any fan of doom and the sounds under its vast umbrella would do well to check this out.
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