ALBUM REVIEW: Solemn Ceremony – Solemn Ceremony

Here is a review for the debut and self titled album of SOLEMN CEREMONY! Out today on Nine Records! Let’s hope this is some really great Doom Metal!

1. Nightmare begins things with crunchy riffs, a slow burnt feel and a nice atmosphere going on. The hi hat hits counting the song nicely into sludgy perfection with tons of groove and a classic Doom Metal vibe present from the off. The laughter adds a nice eerie feel over the punchy riffs and well built in drums. The howled vocals sound really haunting and match the music really beautifully with some nice creepy, occult lyrics. There is a nice epic feel to things as they really grow into something wonderful with super heavy guitars, crushing bass, simplistically effective drums and just gloriously performed vocals. The enticing lyrics and captivating instrumental sections really drew me in and found this song to be a really gorgeously written and performed piece of music with some really original verses and catchy hooks. The lead work and clean lines on guitar are really a nice flourish that isn’t too flamboyant, it fits perfectly in its place, adding a subtle but effective boost to the tracks impact. Incredibly versatile and enjoyable opening piece of Doom Metal goodness with tons of rhythm, atmosphere and gripping music!
2. End Of The Line comes in with a more clean tone across the board but it works really nicely and gives the band something to build on. Which they do with some absolutely incredible and powerful riffs on guitar and bass, really punchy and intense drums and some superb vocal work too. This track is very indulgent in taking from many areas of well established Doom Metal sounds and blending them into something unique and brilliant with some gorgeous clean sections that really allow the song to halt and rebuild its momentum that is very exciting to listen to and really haunting too. There has clearly been immense amounts of thought and effort gone into writing this track, it really shows and the product is a beautifully put together, epic opus of really sludgy and gruellingly depressive Metal that is just nailed in execution. There are plenty of familiar elements from Candlemass, Electric Wizard and Sleep but the band really build on them and make something that is completely their own and unique while comfortably resonant to hardened followers of the genre, there is a really reliable vibe coming from them that I am sure other listeners will agree with. Another phenomenal song that is elevated, full of life and incredibly melodic with plenty of unpredictable twists and turns! I also like the plectrum scrape that brings the song to an abrupt end, a cool nuance.
3. One Last Failure begins with some really classic Black Sabbath worshipping, hugely epic riffs that are so crushingly heavy and full of obscene force, perfectly capturing the morbid and occult vibe of the song and really putting old but successful formula into excellent play. The bass playing on this song really stands out just after the intro that brings the first verse a nice ghostly feel into a huge spectral atmosphere. The guitars rejoin for some more obliterating riffs that really melt the tight mix beautifully like candle wax (I couldn’t resist the use of some doomy simile). The melodic guitar leads soar over the groovy rhythm and bass sections, punctuated beautifully by some great drums and the haunting lyric “I took my failure to the tomb” which I really liked. Beautifully put together piece that crawls between slow and drudging verses to huge and in your face chorus’ excellently! The lyrics are profoundly depressing and really well written. The diversity in the songwriting really does make this incredibly unpredictable and exciting to listen to. The huge Candlemass vibes this song gives off are really digestible and entertaining to me, this is certainly some Epic Doom Metal!
4. Solemn Ceremony comes in with even more really strong and wonderful riffs, the band seem to have an endless supply! The crawling vibe of the track is really punchy due to the well placed drums and nice bass sections that briefly take the lead before the assault of the morbid vocals join for one last bout of emotionally intense music. It is a really well put together song with some nice lead work really elevating the mood but keeping the nice depressive vibe of things. The track has a nice sense of finality to it, taking its role of closing the album as an opportunity to shine one last time rather than effortlessly die out this song really just takes one last change to belt out some classy and intelligent, brilliant Doom Metal fury! The riffs are absolutely killer just before the halfway mark especially with some definite Sabbath vibes really shining through to allow the occult vocals ghoulishness to take the reigns beautifully. Once more the lyrics are astounding as well, not that I am shocked at this point. A great final track, a spectacular album and a band I will certainly keep on my radar for future releases! Beautifully done!

Solemn Ceremony have a really nice unique occult rock vibe in their really atmospheric brand of Doom Metal, it has this awesome feeling to it that doesn’t sound like I have heard it a million times. A great debut release and a certainly impressive foundation to build from with future releases, I am sure the band will do very will if they keep this high standard up! -8.5/10