Ahhhhh, the riff...and when you talk about the almighty riff, generally it means that doom is ever present. That is indeed the case with Of Woe and Wounds, the latest Cruz del Sur release from Apostle of Solitude. This is heavy, heavy stuff, sure to please any fan of vintage Black Sabbath, Candlemass, or Saint Vitus with its never ending supply of monstrous riffing, pounding rhythms, and potent vocal attack. "Blackest of Times" is an instant doom classic, with some delicious riffs and a creepy vibe, while the supercharged "Whore's Wings" ups the ante on the speed for a more NWOBHM feel. If you love snails pace, doom laden death marches, look no further than "Lamentations of a Broken Man" and the absolutely crushing "Luna", each one mesmerizing examples of psychedelic, almost funeral styled doom. I can't stress enough just how good the vocals are here, with soaring passages keeping up with the monstrous riffs on the beefy "Die Vicar Die", and adding a wonderful sense of melody to the chugging "Push Mortal Coil". But, as we said at the beginning, with this style of metal it's all about the riffs, and with tunes like "This Mania" and "Siren" you certainly get plenty of juicy, crushing riffs, topped off by the occasional wah-wah solo or tasty harmony lead.
Of Woe and Wounds is a very well done doom record, full of everything we love about the genre. It's another stellar release from the always dependable folks at Cruz del Sur, and a band that any doom fan will need to put on their immediate radar.
Track Listing
1) Distance and the Cold Heart
2) Blackest of Times
3) Whore's Wings
4) Lamentations of a Broken Man
5) Die Vicar Die
6) Push Mortal Coil
7) This Mania
8) Siren
9) Luna
10) Distance and the Cold Heart (reprise)
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