I think there are a few comparisons between Snowblood and Fall of Efrafa. Both are from the UK (Snowblood hail from Glasgow) and are (were) relatively unknown. Both have a trilogy of Cds, both have the same recycled, cardboard Cd sleeves with simple effective artwork, and both are utterly magnificent. And unfortunately both have called it quits after their third landmark album.

The difference musically is slight as Snowblood play a more crusty, caustic form of sludgy post rock that while still injecting moments of acoustic bliss, builds and huge crescendos is a bit more brittle and angry rather than epic and somber, but no less brilliant.

The hour long journey actually start pretty serenely as the first of the four untitled tracks start with delicate atmospheric programming, soft percussive approach, shimmering guitar gait and clean singing, lulls you into a false sense of security before the track erupts into a seething, screaming, frenzy of lurching riffs and a huge bluesy, stoner rock groove. And that’s the first 18 minutes. The second track has a touch act to follow but its moody strumming, cello/violin and dark crooning set a nice mood akin to Neurosis in deft, dark artistry, but you can feel the urgency start to build and eventually it does erupt at 9:44 into a huge but controlled doomy lurch.

The somber, more post rock and Neurosis influenced  hues continue to start the third track, where delicate strings back a steady, languid, shimmering riffs and clean vocals make for a hypnotic 10 minutes even with some pained screaming towards the end. The 17 minute closer has a very slight Tool influence before a massive sludgy section and crippling atmospheric segue  and eventual explosion of hefty, pummeling sludge and its simply brilliant, closing a brilliant album in fitting fits of exasperation and rending emotion.

As with Fall of Efrafa its at pity this band split up so early, but also like Fall of Efrafa, they left behind a brilliant legacy that fans of post rock and sludge should absolutely check out right now

[Visit the band's website]

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