Coffins are hardly a new name in the doom/death metal circuit. Hailing from Japan, Coffins are a devastating, mind funeral of a band rife with riffs and thunderous vocals. Having recently released their new album, The Fleshlands, Coffins don’t fail to meet the expectations of fans or newcomers. However, only recently have Coffins risen out of the underground and into the dark light of the metal circles.
The first track on the album, “Here Comes Perdition” is a truly magnetic track to understand. Cacophonous and equally as brilliant, it is a sweeping, sludgy, stark envisioning of a post-apocalyptic hell akin to the horrors of the Event Horizon. Here we’re introduced to the nearly vampiric, gut-churning vocals which are absolutely incredible to behold. Following is the track “Hellbringer” which is more an example of Deicide-meets-Origin-esque death metal. Again we’re anticipating the harsh, shrill vocals, and again they deliver.
Perhaps worth noting is the sense of atmosphere that The Fleshlands exhibits; the pulverizing guitars which not only groove, but seep black blood into the songs that infuse them with an inherent darkness. They add a depth and range to each song that accent, rather than hold any of the songs back. More importantly, they avoid the sound of repetition, which many sludge metal bands tend to fall into.
Ultimately, The Fleshlands is a strong example of a new infusion of talent in the world of sludge metal. With the vocals, the exemplary guitar work, and the almost romantic sounds of hatred, The Fleshlands makes for one of the better albums I’ve heard over the course of 2013. This album, beyond any I could recommend, beyond genre staples, is a great introduction to sludge metal and its hybrid forms.
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