Belgium’s  Angakok play a depressive doom/sludge metal that is not long or drawn out like some doom bands (not a bad thing by any means) but is short and loaded with a sort of creepy atmosphere.

I say creepy because within some songs and a few instrumentals there is spoken word parts as if heard thru a radio ( “Aksarpok” and “Sivudlit Nertorpok” being good examples, the later sounding as if it’s a asylum inmate of some sorts) The song “Samsara” is loaded with atmosphere about half way into the song a electric acoustic strumming comes thru and then a bombastic guitar drone and a electronic wind sound in the background give a foreboding sense of dread.

Vocalist Ben is highly reminiscent of Tom G Warrior not has gruff a bit more shouting but it gives the music more that sense of desperation. Speaking ol Tom much of the music has a slight Celtic Frost feel and by extension Triptykon also. There are touches of early Corrosion of Conformity with some of the compactness of the songs and structure (“Dead Birds”) and others have the heavy doom drone element (“Trust My Scorn”) while “Empty Cup” has that epic Asphyx guitar doom element that just pounds you at the beginning.

Production is simple and to the point and all instruments heard clearly, with the one (both?) of the guitars being heavily distorted and acting has the bass and rumbling and growling out a bass feel. I have a digital copy but from what I can tell they don’t have a bassist but with the bludgeoning you receive at times I don’t think you will miss it too much. All in good release and for those still looking for the doom in their summer this could be a good thing to listen to.

[Visit the band's website]

---

Comments