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DARK CASTLE
"Spirited Migration" (At a Loss;
2009)
Reviewed by Mike SOS
So another two-piece guy/girl band comes to the forefront but, before the temptation to cry out in protest wins out (even if judging solely on aesthetics), don’t be fooled; Florida duo Dark Castle is the total antithesis to White Stripes in every way conceivable.
From swapped-out band roles (whose female vocals are pretty spot-on foreboding, by the way) to the multi-faceted less-is-more rhythmic attack chock full of echo swirls, caustic distortion, and synth accoutrements, Dark Castle invites listeners to engage in vast levels of morass without a bass to be heard, sprouting an unanchored uneasiness prevalent throughout the eight-track, nearly 40-minute journey.
Best taken in its entirety in repeated doses, "Spirited Migration" is the end result of post-hardcore embellishments and doom metal devices gone awry by way of modern metallic psychedelica beaten into the brain. Almost as if Isis and Crowbar decided to jam out for fun, the combination of this act’s galactic scope and gigantic heft renders a sludge-ridden good time for those who enjoy a hearty helping of abrasiveness layered with ambient passages to help the lava go down smooth.
For more information, check out http://www.myspace.com/darkcastlemetal.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2009 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised:
18 Nov 2024 13:33:12 -0500.
