ACRIMONY „“Tumuli Shroomaroom””

Music: Stoner/Doom
Country: United Kingdom
Web site: ww.myspace.com/leavesofmellowgrace


Cool Songs: Million Year Summer, Motherslug (The Mother of All Slugs), Firedance

Leaf Hound Records has reissued this classic doom rock album with expanded art work and never-before-seen photos. Originally recorded in 1996, “Tumuli Shroomaroom” is possibly a representation of the band at its height of popularity before disbanding in 2001. The album was released via the mighty U.K. label Peaceville Records and produced by the Andy Sneap (CRADE OF FILTH, KREATOR, EXODUS, MEGADETH—and numerous other great acts).

The production is one of the major differences between this album and “Bong On-Live Long!” “Tumuli” has a more polished sound, and the band seems to make less use of effects, especially in the vocals. The effects are still there, but in less abundance than their other release of this year.

Two of the most effects-laden tracks from “Bong On” are also on this release, “The Bud Song” and “Firedance,” although the “Bong On” material yields slight differences. “Motherslug (The Mother of all Slugs) is another trippy tune; complete with the type of psychedelic climax that typifies many of the band's tracks.

The guitar still retains its fiery sound and the bass still pushes your speakers to their limit, but Sneap’s production takes away some of the fuzz and grit of other albums. Apparently, the group also felt this way fore the tracks taken from “Bong On”, recorded at a later period, had a rawer feel. Additionally, the inclusion of echoing vocals supplied an extra dimension to the band’s far-out sound. “Tumuli” shows an evolution in the their sound, with the group exercising more experimentation and vocal echoes near the end of the album, seeking further recesses of your mind.

“Tumuli” begins with the band relying less on effects and more on conventional, stoner/doom riffing. Guitarists Stu and Lee craft tasty riffs with breaking Wha wa leads or intros. Like elemental wizards, the guitar duo masterfully manipulates the air waves with wicked pedal effects upon the opening of “Vy.” The high tones soon drop into a menacing doom rhythm in the tradition of “Dope Fiend” by ACID BATH. The Wha sound flies back into the mix near the end of the song, while the doomed rhythm moves the song along. “Million Year Summer” features an up beat rhythm that transforms into an epic doom rhythm that draws attention to the last verse of the song, “Glory to the Day.”

It always sucks when you discover a band after it has been put to rest. You know the group will never again release new material nor tour. However, thanks to Leaf Hound, at least classic stoner/doom albums like “Tumuli Shroomaroom” won’t be lost. People like me who have never heard this band now get a chance, and those that experienced this group can revisit the magic of their music.

note: 8.5/10

Tracklist

1. Hymns To The Stone
2. Million Year Summer
3. Turn The Page
4. Vy
5. Find The Path
6. The Bug Song
7. Motherslug (The Mother Of All Slugs)
8. Heavy Feather
9. Firedance
Total playing time: 65:00

Line-up

Paul Bidmead: Bass
Lee Davies: Guitar
Darren Ivey: Drums
Stuart O´Hara: Guitar
Dorian Walters: Vocals