Awaken is the debut from German doomsters Confusion Master, out now on Exile on Mainstream Records. No doubt spawned from a deep love of all things Electric Wizard, Black Sabbath, St. Vitus, and Ramesses, the guys in Confusion Master churned out six tracks steeped in hazy stoner riffage, a touch of trippy psychedelia, and of course monolithic doom. "With Pollution" kicks things off with massive riffs and a boatload of fuzzy wah-wah, a near 11-minute dirge that then segues into the equally epic "Northern Midnight Ghoul", complete with crashing drums and guitar & bass riffs that just never quit. "Reaper's Fist" is a bit shorter but contains a hell of a groove (fans of Black Sabbath's Master of Reality album will dig this one), but then Confusion Master deliver a spooky psych/doom gem titled "Goner Colony" that is almost like a midnight jam between Sabbath and Hawkwind, Stephan Kurth's anguished vocals a blend of vintage Ozzy and Dave Brock. Both "In the Shadow of the Bon" and "False Dawn" are more mid -paced stoner fare, long on beefy riffs and pounding drum fills, and the album closes with its shortest cut, the title track, ripe with ominous guitar effects and bleak atmosphere, as Awaken ends on an almost post -rock styled note.
Perhaps a tad 'long in the tooth' in spots, Awaken is nonetheless a potent debut from this German four piece band. Maybe next go 'round the band might opt to tighten up their arrangements a little, but either way, they have a strong hold on creating heavy riffs and teaming that up with some chilling atmosphere. Nicely done, and a band to keep a close eye on.
Track Listing
1. Witch Pollution 10:45
2. Northern Midnight Ghoul 10:41
3. Reaper's Fist 06:58
4. Goner Colony 11:09
5. In the Shadow of the Bon 06:48
6. False Dawn 08:11
7. Awaken 04:56
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