Wormwood
I usually have to look up the definition of a band’s name, as required by law. All part of the drug reform law. Which one you ask? Oh, the one that treats people with a serious medical problem as patients rather than criminals. Haven’t heard of that yet? Someday you will.
So wormwood is the active ingredient in Absinthe. Absinthe is a liquor that comes from France and was favored by all the crazy, Impressionist painters of the late 1800’s.
Absinthe was banned in America for many years until recently and the cause was wormwood. The ingredient not the band. Though, ironically, for some reason I can’t fathom, this band is in fact banned in France.
The reason of the banning (1912-2007) was because Absinthe was known to cause hallucinations in the period of the Impressionists. It would seem it wasn’t the wormwood but the amount being used, meaning- the whiskey you buy at the liquor store compared to the “moonshine” you buy at a still.
I did receive a free sample in a club a few years ago without any ill effects (that’s debatable) and I have seen Wormwood perform once live (no ill effects again).
Wormwood simply refers to “metal doom” on their bandcamp and “heavy” on their facebook page. I will say this is probably the most doom-iest band we cover. But we have so many bands now with the doom influence and this band does the doom right, meaning- listening to them makes me excited and not lulled to sleep.
Let’s check them out and see if you agree.
“I’d Rather Die” starts with about ten seconds of feedback subtly signifying impending doom. Then the guitar crashes in with one sustained chord, changing when it feels like it with the drums pounding behind it, and a mood of heavy doom is set. Eventually, the echo-y vocals come in with the music just picking up a step. “I’d rather die/ Than live a lie/ I’d rather die/ Than live your life.” The ominous sound of this song reminds me of one of my favorite locals bands BDSX. “Look what we’ve done/ Look what we’ve become.” The beat is heavy, dark and oppressive. The bass and guitar moves atmospherically like a night window scene from a moving car. The music changes into an industrial sludge sound to go along with the doom; like metal factory machines jamming, ending with some fading feedback. This is a great industrial/ doom/ metal lullaby.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/01 Id Rather Die.mp3|titles=I’d Rather Die]Also, starting with feedback “White Plague” starts with a more active guitar lick but is brought down to a more moderate beat. The lick is minor keyed and ends with white noise as the rhythm creates a dark and solid gloom. The guitar goes a little haywire before the vocals enter against the descending chord change. The verse and chorus have a metallic glam feeling to it making me think of Bowie“Diamond Dogs” era being backed by Black Sabbath. A grand and morbid idea, indeed! The beginning of a guitar solo seems ready to burst out but instead the vocals answer “White Plague.” Another doom masterpiece.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/02 White Plague.mp3|titles=White Plague]“Indoctrination” starts, surprisingly enough, with some guitar feedback, then some ominous, crashing chords along with some drums pounding in unison along. But when the smoke clears a bass line that is rhythmically almost Latin, sets another brooding, gloom of gray industrialization to arise. “Lies/ Raised on lies/ Condition your mind/ Born into this/ Don’t question it/ Obey.” The rhythm section moves forward like a slow moving beast while the vocals spit venom and the guitars grind out shards of desolate, abandoned city sites that end in one sustaining chord of defeat, but the song wins out in its beauty.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/03 Indoctrination.mp3|titles=Indoctrination]I was really sold on the band by the live show I saw by them recently (which went on-line the same time as this review). It was very arty in the best sense of the word, meaning- not pretentious or ponderous but thought out and played in a meaningful way.
And I said it made me think of Franz Kline pictures. (Hey, second time visual artists are referenced in this review). Kline’s paintings are huge and constructed more like sculpture, scarey and foreboding in a way.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6cw_hA2DxlY/TBvouvhqseI/AAAAAAAAAG8/nFvEziHWNZU/s1600/aaca_gugg_0109_12.jpg
I wouldn’t say that about Wormwood. I would say if you’re looking for cheery music look away, if you’re looking for exciting, cheap thrills music look somewhere else. If you’re looking for obvious, retread music you couldn’t be far off from your path.
But if want intense, expressive, meaningful, passionate art (and I use that term in the best way, the Franz Kline way, Vincent Van Gogh way).
Open your ears and take a look.
I believe it’s right here.
(Slimedog)
