Band : Archon
Album Title : The Ruins At Dusk
Label : Own Release
Distributor :
Release Date : 2010
Review : CD

On the Electric Wizard/Middian/Sleep/Evoken-side of the metal spectrum comes Archon an interesting septet led by main composer Andrew Jude (Agnosis/Tides Within), another DIY band that is trying to make some tsunami waves with a debut. The interesting feature of this band is that they combine sludge and doom to go along with the death/black/torture/hate/from the underground vocals and riffing. If nothing else, it makes for a crushingly interesting listen! Hell, I'd even say that they get the Electric Wizard bludgeoning groove down better than Jus Osborn and co. do these days  And yes I like Black Masses.
Filled with growling riffs, disturbing claustrophobic atmospheres and earth shattering vocals by four different female/male butchers (they butcher their vocal cords), this US septet sets a very gloomy tone as their first sinister musical creation oozes throughout the speakers. There are 4 tracks herein, and 60 minutes total running time, so you know you're going to get some epically lengthy songs here.  The single-note monolithic riff lines are often either harmonized or have countermelodies under them, which keeps the music interesting most of the time. Tempos are slowed down the point of excruciating heaviness; every note hanging for what seems like an heroic eternity. Sounding wide and expansive, the notes and melodies hang in the air, permeating throughout the musical abyss. The band exploits what are relatively minimal arrangements, punctuating the heavier points throughout each song with sonic emphasis, which in turn creates a very intense listening experience. During the running time of twenty-one minutes, the longest “The Fate of Gods (parts I and II)” switches between quieter sections and brutal riffs and Archon permits themselves to integrate surprisingly numerous guitar solos as well as a good dose of psychedelic.
To summarize, Archon is heavy, really, really heavy, and the slow, agonizing, smartly planned music on The Ruins At Dusk absolutely brilliant. I can’t imagine what the next album is going to sound like as will be almost impossible to top this.

95/100

Cosmicmasseur.