The Pitch: Vermont band Barishi return with their new album Old Smoke via Season Of Mist, this time taking on the doom world while maintaining their progressive touch. FFO: Mastodon riffs meets extreme doom.
What I Like: Old Smoke represents a very different band from the one I discovered back in 2015 with Endless Howl, or for that matter their first Season Of Mist outing, 2016's Blood From The Lion's Mouth. While those albums were so eclectic as to be difficult to pin down in terms of genre, incorporating elements of everything from post-black to sludge, this new material finds Barishi pretty firmly grounded in the world of extreme doom. Familiar mechanics remain: proggy Mastodon riffs slinking and coiling in a serpentlike fashion alongside the Absu-esque cavernous snarls of frontman Graham Brooks. It's just that the larger context and approach to songwriting have shifted in favor of 10+ minute insiduious groove machines that feel more rooted in the world of Indian and Inter Arma. True to the cover art, what results feels like a series of pagan rituals to the old gods and animist spirits; further elevated by the occasional inclusion of acoustic guitar culminating in the Cult Leader-ish post metal journey of the closing title track. I must say, it's a pretty entrancing bit of witchcraft for a couple of dudes from the New England states. To be fair, I guess they are neighbors to the infamous Salem trials in Massachusetts.
Critiques: Not much of a doom fan overall, I do find myself missing the more diverse range of their previous material. The longer tracks don't always carry my attention as there just isn't enough new going on to keep it interesting. Too much repetition.
The Verdict: While I find myself yearning for a little more of Barishi's previous bold take on genre mashups, I always respect a band unwilling to make the same album twice. Old Smoke is ultimately another unique chapter for a group who clearly wield a wide range of influences, and I continue to be interested to hear what comes out next.
Flight's Fav's: Entombed in Gold Forever, Blood Aurora, The Silent Circle
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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