Bass, drums, and vocals...that's all that the two-man band known as Geryon utilize to create their pummeling brand of prog-death-sludge on their sophomore release The Wound and the Bow. Comprised of bassist/vocalist Nicholas McMaster and drummer Lev Weinstein, the NY based duo weave crushing, rumbling arrangements throughout this album, Weinstein flailing away at his kit in acrobatic fashion while McMaster shouts, bellows, and growls over booming bass riffs & sinewy lead lines. The musical skills of the two are pretty remarkable, and in actuality you don't really even miss the absence of guitar, as McMaster more than fills the space with his dexterous bass lines, grooves, and chords. His vocals however are The Wound and the Bow's weak point, at times sounding like they were recorded in an underground cavern, his bellowing pointlessly simmering beneath the surface as if an afterthought. Most of these tracks could have easily been successful instrumentals, which the effective "Lys" is and the title track nearly succeeds at despite a few shouts thrown in near the end. A few of the tunes also suffer from a lack of dynamics and come across as repetitive, but when they slow down and add some creepy atmosphere, as on the lengthy closer "Dioscuri", the results are quite satisfying.
Overall, somewhat of an uneven listen, but the talents of Geryon are definitely there, making for some intriguing moments for those who want something a little different from the norm.
Track Listing
- Silent Command
- Dawn
- Lys
- Skein
- Legion
- The Wound And The Bow
- Dioscuri
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