| CD REVIEW RealmBuilder |
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Band: RealmBuilder There are different labels that are known for a specific genre, never mind if it is Black or Death Metal, Thrash or Heavy Metal, Grind or Sludge, or whatever. There are several labels that are specialised in Doom-oriented (Metal) in general, yet I Hate is such a label that stands aside. This Swedish label indeed has lots of Doom bands on its rooster, yet not the most traditional or mainstream ones. On the contrary, many of the bands and projects that signed to I Hate differ a lot from what we’re used to (some examples: Reino Ermitano, The Wounded Kings, Siebensünden or Ereb Altor). RealmBuilder, hailing from New York, is such a ‘different’ project too. The project consists of two lifetime-long friends, J.H. Halbert, a music professor and international appreciated composer, and Czar, known from Black Metal outfit Charnel Valley. They started this project a few years ago and Summon The Stone Throwers was originally released on vinyl only, also through I Hate Records. And now this material is available on CD too. …luckily! RealmBuilder’s music is a mystic and obscure combination of Epic and Doom Metal with elements from NWoBHM and Seventies Metal. The album brings fascinating, open-minded and trespassing hymns with a massive sound and rather unique song writing. At the same time, the whole sounds dramatic and heroic, ready to battle, eager to conquer, willing to obey their gods of War and Vengeance. Every track is epic, melodic yet full of surprises, and never I get the impression this is a would-be record. Besides the tracks are not all alike and do not sound as some easy copying of any other band. I do hear elements from Black Sabbath and Trouble, Saint Vitus and Pentagram, Ironsword, Ereb Altor, Reverend Bizarre, Pagan Altar, DoomSword and even Bathory era Hammerheart/ Twilight Of The Gods/ Blood On Ice, yet these influences are brought with an own face, a scarred one, an angry yet proud one! 90/100 Ivan Tibos. |
