KING GOAT
First thing you'll notice about the sophomore EP from Brighton based 'King Goat', if you get a physical copy, is the colour, vibrancy and design of the artwork, which I really like. It perfectly describes the fuzzy psychedelic, prog-infused, doom metal of the three tracks contained within. Part Black Sabbath, part Candlemass with hints of Cathedral, Celtic Frost and Hawkwind, this is not the sort of thing I usually listen to but King Goat have certainly struck a chord.
I have yet to hear their debut EP, 'Atom' from 2012, but will certainly be seeking it out. This is pretty hypnotic and enjoyable stuff and not many bands would consider opening with a near 13 minute, almost completely instrumental track, but 'The Final Decline' is just that and proves to me that King Goat are not about conforming to the usual stereotypes of doom. It's a slowly building and haunting track, actually quite repetitive, but the cries and wails over the music keep your attention and when the harsh vocals do appear at eight and a half minutes, the song really opens up. Thinking that was going to be the style of singing all the way through it was a genuine and welcome surprise when the clean and very good singing voice of 'Trim' makes itself heard, with a distinct Ozzy vibe near the end. This is a great way to open but it gets better! Second track, 'Cult Obscene', adds more of the early Candlemass and Celtic Frost influences but with a Middle Eastern twang as well, and in final track 'Melian's Trance', they save the best for last. This could almost have come off 'Epicus Doomicus Metallicus' with the vocals sounding quite Messiah Marcolin in places but with added Tom G. Warrior grunts.
Production is good, it reeks of the 1970s but with a modern sheen, and the rest of the band - Petros (lead guitar), Joe (rhythm guitar), Reza (bass) and Jon (drums) - all perform well. I've seen others describe this as average but, whilst King Goat aren't reinventing the wheel of doom, what they do play is played passionately and with a rumbling fire that many bands do not or cannot muster. This is still a work in progress but I'm going to be more than interested to see what they come up with next.
I have yet to hear their debut EP, 'Atom' from 2012, but will certainly be seeking it out. This is pretty hypnotic and enjoyable stuff and not many bands would consider opening with a near 13 minute, almost completely instrumental track, but 'The Final Decline' is just that and proves to me that King Goat are not about conforming to the usual stereotypes of doom. It's a slowly building and haunting track, actually quite repetitive, but the cries and wails over the music keep your attention and when the harsh vocals do appear at eight and a half minutes, the song really opens up. Thinking that was going to be the style of singing all the way through it was a genuine and welcome surprise when the clean and very good singing voice of 'Trim' makes itself heard, with a distinct Ozzy vibe near the end. This is a great way to open but it gets better! Second track, 'Cult Obscene', adds more of the early Candlemass and Celtic Frost influences but with a Middle Eastern twang as well, and in final track 'Melian's Trance', they save the best for last. This could almost have come off 'Epicus Doomicus Metallicus' with the vocals sounding quite Messiah Marcolin in places but with added Tom G. Warrior grunts.
Production is good, it reeks of the 1970s but with a modern sheen, and the rest of the band - Petros (lead guitar), Joe (rhythm guitar), Reza (bass) and Jon (drums) - all perform well. I've seen others describe this as average but, whilst King Goat aren't reinventing the wheel of doom, what they do play is played passionately and with a rumbling fire that many bands do not or cannot muster. This is still a work in progress but I'm going to be more than interested to see what they come up with next.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Self-released
EP
KING GOAT
Review by Rick Tilley
RUNNING TIME:
26:20
RELEASE DATE:
28th April 2014
TRACK LISTING
1) The Final Decline
2) Cult Obscene
3) Melian's Trance
2) Cult Obscene
3) Melian's Trance
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
UK
"...whilst King Goat aren't reinventing the wheel of doom, what they do play is played passionately and with a rumbling fire that many bands do not or cannot muster."
