The DevilsHorns

Atomicult is the 8^th album by Belfast doom-lords Slomatics and it is an album that shows the band have no intention of slowing down – in a quality of album sense, not a musical sense. This is doom after all. 20 years into their career, the trio maintain their spacey, synth-laden approach to the genre and there is much to enjoy about the album.

The impressive nature begins with the very first track. ‘Obey Capricorn’ is a robust opener. It’s psychedelic nature and deliberate vocals a supported by a big doom riff. It is comforting. It is doom as it should be.

switches, into a far more sinister and threatening riff. With synths loitering beneath, and vocals that are just, well, comforting, the track resonates immediately.

‘Auto-Skull’ has a more monotonic riff, but it is the first track to properly get the head nodding. It entrances you, with synths supporting again, the tone is perfect. Lovely! Suddenly, the 4^th track changes the tone of the album.

‘Relics’ is a short gentle track – my notes say ‘not doom’ – It gives you a break from the heavy and cleanses the palette. The album then recovers and the riff-assault begins again with the excellent, psychedelic ‘Night Grief’. Phew! Crisis averted.

Perhaps the most enjoyable thing about Atomicult, perhaps enjoyable is the wrong word – the whole thing is enjoyable. No, perhaps the most intriguing thing is the album length. 10-track doom albums do not come in under 40 minutes. Normally, you’d expect a doom album to be an hour long. But no – Slomatics respect the listener (only 1 album of theirs is over 40 mins long I believe).

This alone prompts me to give this a 2^nd listen and probably more. To be honest, 1 listen doesn’t do the album justice. I want to interrogate the lyrics. I want to delve into the riffs and explore the tracks in more detail. Atomicult warrants further investigation.

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