Saturday 13 July 2013

11Paranoias - Superunnatural (Album Review)

 
Album Type : Full Length
Date Released : 8/7/2013
Label : Ritual Productions

Superunnatural, album track listing:
1) Deceiver of the Deep 7:13
2) Ossuaries 5:57
3) Reapers Ruin 5:59
4) Inside Eusas Head 7:12
CD Bonus tracks
5) Deceiver of the Deep (Rehearsal) 6:59
6) Reapers Ruin (Rehearsal) 6:22
7) Eusas Ghost Projector(Rehearsal) 11:34
8) Black Sun Loop (Rehearsal) 2:19
 
Bio:
After one jam on 11/11/11, members of Ramesses (Adam Richardson and Mark Greening) and Bong (Mike Vest) conjured a new band which they baptised as 11PARANOIAS. Now it comes with great delight to introduce their debut recordings via their spiritual home, Ritual Productions.

In an exclusive interview for Metal Hammer about the demise of Ramesses, Adam Richardson revealed more about 11PARANOIAS…"It’s definitely more psychedelic rock and it’s still experimental and a bit crazy, but it’s a bit less Ramesses. It’s less aggro, but weirdly there are few parts that surpass even Ramesses for heaviness, which does make it a bit of a weird one. We weren’t planning that but it just came out, and some stuff was ridiculously heavy, other stuff just sounded really tripped out and spacey – a 60s/70s psychedelic rock sort of sound.”…he continues…"11Paranoias is going to be combination of Loop, Monster Magnet and Hawkwind, plus of course a bit of Ramesses and Bong. Those last two just basically equal the original three culprits plus ridiculous heaviness, whist bypassing having to sound like anyone else. It does sound fucking out there.”

Anyone who listens to this record will attest to the ridiculously heavy riffs and baselines, none more prominent than on my personal favourite track 'Reapers Ruin'. The freedom of expression and experimentation are particularly fluid throughout 'Ossuaries' and 'Deceiver Of The Deep', with dark psychedelics at play on 'Inside Eusas Head'. These are just the LP tracks too, the CD contains extra bonus material. The LP is adorned by a terrific screen printed cover, rendered by Adam Richardson.

The synergy between the three musicians is perfectly captured on this debut, and is proof enough that 11PARANOIAS have something unique to offer. One thing is certain, we need them right now!

11Paranoias have been confirmed to play this year's Supernormal festival which takes place on 9-11 August. The exact date is to be confirmed so stay tuned for further information about this, other future live action and the record release

Line-up:
Adam Richardson (bass/vox)
Mark Greening (drums)
Mike Vest (guitar)

 
Review:
Ex-members of Electric Wizard/Ramesses and Bong release an album of... stoned sludge/doom, to the surprise of no one. Indeed, the album sounds exactly as you would have hoped, bearing in mind the musicians involved. Very slow, very distorted, very stoned and feedback drenched this is not for the faint hearted or casual hipster. The first track comes in at over seven minutes and works well as a manifesto or even definition of the band's sound.

It's pitch black stuff that is lo-fi in the extreme and positively swirls out of the speakers. Track three, “Reaper's Ruin” gives the listener a semblance of structure and a very slow, swinging groove following the distorted freakouts of tracks one and two. The groove locks in, but dissolves at the mid point before kicking in again, only slower and more horrific. “Inside Eusa's Head” starts with tracked-straight-off-the-floor drums and a plodding bass groove joins in. Eerie whistling and reverb drenched guitar, mixed well back, builds the tension prior to the vocal and swirling guitar really kick in.

The digital copy I have then moves on to rehearsal tracks (these will be featured on the CD version). The sound is thin and tinny (as if it has indeed been recorded with a mobile phone, wrapped in a t-shirt to temper down the distortion a small amount) and the vibe spot on.

Despairing, smoky and as deep as a lake of tar; the band play lock-tight as sheer walls of noise present themselves to the listener. There are a couple of not-on-the-record tracks as well as versions of album tracks that give the purchaser more than the sub-30 minute running time. Bonus tracks such as these are always welcome, particularly as production and mastering are not really that important with this type of stuff.

Quite simply, if you like the first three bands mentioned in this review, buying this is a no brainer. You know what to expect- and you will get it in spades.

Words by : Richard Maw


As ever, show your support to the band by checking them out at the various links.  The second press is due soon, but check here for more info. Thanks as always to Lauren @ Rarely Unable

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