Satyrus: Rites

There’s nothing quite like doom metal when it’s performed well. There’s so much power in all that fuzz and all that groove that you just want to sit back and enjoy. If that sounds good to you, check out this debut release from Italy’s latest riff masters, Satyrus. If you listen to the first track, you’ll hear an opening riff that delivers heavy and fuzzy riffs with just enough twangy wah to get you interested. It’s as killer an opening riff as I’ve heard lately, and it’s only one of the highlights on this album.

If you can’t wait to hear the riffing, be warned: this album starts with about three minutes of ritual sounds to build up the anticipation. I normally don’t like long introductions, but the payoff was totally worth the wait. Since the opening track clocks in at 11 minutes, there’s plenty of song to go around.

If you like “Black Satyrus,� you’re in luck. The rest of the album is just as dedicated to the power of the riff as it was. “Shovel,� my favorite track, easily sets the bar for best riff on the album. Not only that, but it highlights some bass playing that is just as fuzzy and raw as the guitars. If you’re in the mood for heavy doom played in that all-important Sabbath style, this is your song.

Even though “Shovel� was the highlight for me, there’s no reason to stop there. The whole album is heavy, exciting, and surprising. As I write this, I’m listening to “Stigma,� a song that also highlights the band’s bass in ways that set this band apart. Listen to the middle section of that song. Not only is the bass doing some cool things, but the guitars switch over to some lead playing that added some cool variety to the song’s overall sound.

Some people don’t like doom metal because they think it’s boring, too repetitive and too derivative. But they don’t understand the power of the riff. This is a superb release from a band that loves doom metal and understands the power of the riff.

I can’t wait to hear more from Satyrus!

Track Listing:
1. Black Satyrus
2. Shovel
3. Swirl
4. Stigma
5. Trailblazer

Added: April 7th 2020
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Bandcamp Page
Hits: 830
Language: english

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