Band : Rose Kemp
Album Title : Golden Shroud
Label : 12 Year Stretch
Distributor : /
Release Date : 2010
Review : CD

First and foremost, Rose Kemp absolutely mesmerizes live. My initial exposures to their/her folk drone doom was at Burg Herzberg 2009, where she and her musicians stole the entire festival late at midnight and at Duna Jam 2010 where she premiered all the songs from her upcoming third album during the ‘campfire’ beach gig?. And here it is : the new monster, Golden Shroud, by composer Rose Kemp (vocals/guitars) and her great backbones Joe Garcia (bass) and James King (drums and gongs).

Despite 3 long songs and a demanding nature, this release is relatively accessible though and always rewarding. I don't know how much time they spent with the writing of the album, but everything works out. Rose Kemp have found a sound that is as intoxicating as it is impressive.

Opening with a acapella piece with disturbing lyrics, “Black medick II”  (9.26) quickly moves into a bludgeoning ‘Monotheist’-vibe with absolutely amazing bloodcurdling screams by the daughter of Maddy Prior and Rick Kemp of the folk-rock band Steeleye> Span. Rose Kemp has a perfect voice: raw, savage, clear, lovely, disturbing and with a range of pitch and emotion extending from sarcastic whispers, lovely folk singing to screams that hold an agony of rage and anger. Rose Kemp is like a female demon who takes the form of a musical genius in order to seduce people through musical intercourse? Guitars emit thick and full distortion, and, surprisingly at times, quite interesting riffs, given the repetitiveness of their slow-bone melting material. “Blood runs red” haunts and builds an atmosphere that lingers and smolders with suppressed grandeur. Impressively, this grinding song remains interesting for its entire 17 minutes. Finally, they conjure up “Lead coffin” some of the most menacing 16 minutes I have ever heard. Everything here is droning, dark and absolutely overwhelming - a real experience to behold. It is a doom-ridden horror-scape of sparse droning instrumentation and ethereal vocals. Everything in this buzzing song is restrained, with space being created by using the guitars and drums sparingly.

While it’s easy to point out the obvious and call Rose Kemp a doom/drone band, that would be selling them short. This is powerful stuff and a truly gifted offering from one of the best bands out there today.
Clearly this is not something that everyone can get into, but if one takes the time to listen, they will find an epic, sprawling sounds cape of evilish beauty.  If the opportunity presents itself, do yourself a favor and experience Rose Kemp in concert, but first buy this album.

Buy and die.

95/100

Cosmicmasseur.