San Francisco-based doom rockers, ORCHID, established their reputation early with 2009’s release of their first EP, “Through The Devil’s Doorway”, and they soon started work on their debut album ‘Capricorn’ which arrived in 2011. It was from this that the band then gained a deal with Nuclear Blast who soon put them at work on the follow-up, and with a major label behind them this is surely going to create a lot of interest. The best doom bands are those who realise that there is much more to the genre than navel gazing and slow riffs, and if ever there was a band who have studied Sabbath in the finest detail then these guys are it. They understand the need for strong musicianship and heavy riffs yet combined with a vocal style that lifts the mood and feel while also heralding a large dose of psychedelia. There really is no way that this album should be released in 2013, as everything seems to be from forty years ago.
I love the bass, where the notes are incredibly heavy yet somehow there is a lightness of touch and in many ways it reminds me of Glenn Cornick and the way that he used to pull the notes out of the air with some effort, yet always making total musical sense. There is the odd piano, lots of changes in mood and direction, and always with some stunning vocals from lead singer Theo Mindell who has a great inflection and style.
This is retro 70’s rock of the highest order, and if that is your style of music then with this you are in for a real treat.
www.nuclearblast.de
