Mares of Diomedes began in 2014. Consisting of two brothers, they released their first self-titled EP through Heavy Earth Records the next year. The Irish duo has toured Europe , but recently took a break to record new material. Dreich formed in Copenhagen in 2015, but the members hail from various locales. They have already shared the stage with established acts such as Mantar and Dopethrone. This new split with Mares of Diomedes is the band's first recorded output.
“Earth Destroyer” is aptly named and a perfect way to kick off the album. Crushing is not a strong enough adjective. Catastrophic is more like it. The insane amount of fuzz on this track is powerful enough to crumble any building. Demolition experts are considering using the work of Mares of Diomedes to replace explosives. Earthquakes hear this song and call up their insurance companies to increase their coverage. Tense doom and sludge chord progressions meet some rocking groove and unhinged hardcore screams to dominate ad destroy.
Dreich, can I get a little rest here? Those first two tracks already brought down the house. No? Okay then. This band takes a similar strategy musically, but the vocals shift tone with deep death growls sometimes complimented by blackened snarls. If the first band wasn’t extreme enough for you, this one should do the trick. “Blood Mortar” in particular is a double barreled shotgun of doom and old school melodeath. Tracks are mostly on the sluggish side, but that makes the faster bits all the more intense.
Obligatory sentence about how fans of the genre will love this album. How many ways can you say it anyways? I put it up here, which means at least I think it’s worth your time. If you came here trusting my taste, then hurry up and push play. This album knocked me back with it’s shockwave of distortion and never let up. It’s also a good length; not overstaying its welcome, but providing plenty of content to sink your teeth into. Check it out now.