Relatively new to the scene, forming just over a year ago in 2014, Oldd Wvrms is already showing the marks of a group with a singular vision and, perhaps more importantly, ability to put that vision to pleasing audio. Joining with the blackened sludge and doom scene of Belgium, the band is reportedly "officiating in an occult register insisting on a dark and tormented atmosphere, and "Drawing inspiration from ancient tales of witchcraft and forgotten rituals." Spooky. I dig.
Before even pressing play, the album art gives a nice snapshot of what to expect. The dark character depicted along with the stark black and white aesthetic definitely play up the BM aspects of the band, while the logo has a classic doom appeal reminiscent of groups like Black Sabbath or Electric Wizard. And so it goes with the music: harsh, blackened howls join with sludgy, grooving guitar hooks and chilling discordant sustains. It's haunting, it's heavy, it's heavenly to my ears.
And while the opening of "Corrosive" led to to think this EP would have a bit of an industrial feel to it a la Crown's Natron, the focus shifs more into doom territory as the album progresses with sermonlike clean vocals, increasingly drawn-out chord progressions, and even an absolutely goosebump-inducing ambient closer in "Erath." You gotta love those big, clunky basslines too, especially on the appropriately-title "Crawling Things." The balance between these worlds is achieved quite nicely with a variance that still flows cleanly from track to track.
Doomers, sludgers, and black metallers rejoice. There is a new act in town, and if this early material is any indication of what is to come, ya'll best prepare yourselves. Belgium seems to be a breeding ground for this type of music these days. I was floored last year by the Emptiness album, and I look forward to hearing more from Oldd Wvrm's own signature take on the genre. Know what else is great? Just name youre price.