Back in 2003 I reviewed Demon Lung's
The Hundredth Name for Ghost Cult Magazine giving the album a
9/10 and likened it to a “modern doom masterpiece.” Time has done
little to alter that sentiment as the CD still finds itself in
rotation in the car. However, it might be usurped by the Vegas
group's latest offering, A Dracula. This time the doom quintet
base their concept on the 1977 flick Alucarda, the gist of
which is this: the daughter of Satan falls in love with a nun and
converts her to the dark side. She is killed by her fellow nuns, is
resurrected by Satan's Daughter and together they exact their revenge
on the nuns and the world. How cool is that?!
The band once again worked with Billy
Anderson. His engineering helps give the music that penetrating
warmth that envelopes the scene like a fog, obscuring all that lay
beyond the here and now, allowing the listener to become one with the
music. Music that somewhat manages to be even more epic than its
predecessor.
After the acoustic intro “Rursumque
Alucarda”, Demon Lung launch into A Dracula with “Behold, the
Daughter”. The track features some swift rhythms that have no place
on a doom record but Demon Lung make them work. Hey, Cathedral
didn't drag their feet the whole time either. As we're introduced to
the evil temptress those rhythms bring trepidation and mimic the
pounding hearts of those confronting the Daughter. It does slow to
groovier movements and ominous doom however. Through it all Shanda
Fredrick's perfectly suited voice leaves no doubt that this is
doom no matter the tempo.
Throughout A Dracula we can feel
this dynamism. Fast sections give way to pounding riffs in a sludge
vein as well as chugging doom signalling action of a most dark sort.
One even finds quieter moments with Fredrick's croon dominating.
Those times are ones of abject sorrow yet are usually followed by the
muscular doom we've come to expect. One can think of and feel those
times like tears drying and a resolve building into the resulting
destruction. Revenge.
Time and again the unholy trinity of
Phil Burns and Brent Lynch (guitar) and Jason Lamb
(bass) serve up powerful and epic riffs reaching the highest spires
and the deepest dungeons. Their unity is as natural as it is
overpowering. Undoubtedly doomy tone and a bevy of riffs, punctuated
by concussive chords slam the listener hard enough to make the heart
skip a beat and the variety of moods pieced fluidly together reflect
the drama of the narrative.
All this ensures not only a feeling of
doom but also of terror through those racing tempos, barely
perceptible, more felt than heard atmospheric touches and Fredrick's
coldly seductive delivery. Saving perhaps the best for last, A
Dracula concludes with “Raped by the Serpent”, where all
things come to a head and Fredrick puts forth her most powerful
performance.
There is no doubt Demon Lung have
crafted a superb doom album here but what makes it special, and so
intriguing, is how they're able to adapt the film into the lyrical
concept without it sounding cheap. Especially without the use of
samples. Other than the arresting chorus on the closer, my favourite
lyric is from “Deny the Saviour” with “You worship death, I
worship life.” I love that this is the Daughter speaking to the
nun.
With A Dracula Demon Lung have
once again rendered my soul to the darkness and put forth an album
I'll be sure to listen to for a long time to come. Lurching doom,
terror-filled runs more akin to death metal, Jeremy Brenton's
thunderous percussion and Fredrick's (splendid) voice comprise the
pieces of this excellent (sure, I'll say it again) masterpiece.
Released June 29, 2015 on Candlelight Records
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