The New York based Archon first came to our attention in 2010 with their debut, The Ruins of Dusk, a record steeped in shades of doomed sludge and created by no less than seven members. Next came a split with Old One and then…nothing. Fast forward to 2013, and Archon are once again back to render all to dust with Ouroboros Collapsing, having lost a couple of people along the way but certainly not losing their spirit or desire or passion for their message.
Archon’s sound is one that sways from the recognisable elements of doom, sludge and stoner rock whilst never losing the important cohesion that must be present in a band that is intent on throwing a couple of little tricks into the mix here and there. Dual vocals from Chris Dialogue and Rachel Brown add a depth to the record and thankfully this technique never strays into the sometimes overblown territory that it could occupy. Harsh vocals are extremely present, yet Rachel Brown adds a warmth and a delicate lilt to proceedings at times, giving Archon that little something extra, that humanity that bands often lack during the more extreme moments of sound.
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Droning structures introduce “Worthless” and set the tone for this four track album. Dank and dirty swirls of dusk haze in to the song as this extended subsonic doom sets in. Brown’s voice cuts into the darkness with an immediate command, her presence seemingly slightly hidden behind the doomed resonance of Andrew Jude’s rumbling bass lines. Somewhat minimal in it’s approach initially, this track takes it’s time, snaking towards the inevitable break that must come. It does, but the journey is long and it seems endless. Growls of oppression filter into the vocal sphere and “Worthless” suddenly moves into curiously melodic waves of hypnotic motion.
“Desert Throne” feels it’s way through clamouring clashes of guitar strike, huge crashes of drum, hazy feedback and gorgeously uplifting clean vocals whilst “God’s Eye” bursts with a forceful momentum and a fiery dissent, and a great drum beat that gets under the skin and kicks with style and pure strength of will before “Masks” comes along and razes all to the ground. Sweetly morose clean vocals sit above doomed passages of intense stress which give way to screams and howls of painful anguish and torment. Archon may have been away for a while, but their fire has never burnt out. Long may it continue to roar.
Check out Archon on facebook and keep up with all kinds of news and shenanigans, or take a look at their bandcamp page where you can pre-order Ouroboros Collapsing in either physical, or digital form – it will be available on February 19th in conjunction with The Path Less Traveled Records. Or you could also get yourself a fancy shirt and a download of their debut, The Ruins of Dusk. Cool.
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