Here's another tasty new treat from the folks at Cruz Del Sur, the new EP from epic metal/doom act Smoulder, titled Dream Quest Ends, which features three brand new songs plus another three tracks from their 2018 demo The Sword Woman. Led by the powerful vocals of Sarah Ann, this twin-guitar powerhouse clicks all the buttons for those who crave vintage styled heavy metal & doom in the style of Candlemass, Manilla Road, Omen, and Pagan Altar. "Warrior Witch of Hel" absolutely crushes, the riffs tremendous, the vocals soaring, while "Cage of Mirrors" is more of a fast paced metal track, complete with plenty of headbanging arrangements that gallop along, some little proggy moments dropped in here and there to keep things exciting. The title cut is more of a traditional, almost NWOBHM styled number, while the demo tracks are in more of a doom vibe, "The Queen is Gone" hinting at the great Candlemass and "Voyage of the Sun Chaser" also packing some heat with some terrific riffs and pounding drums.
Quite enjoyable from start to finish, I think Dream Quest Ends only hints at what's to come from Smoulder, a band who seem to have all the tools to make some waves on the metal scene in the months and years to come.
Track Listing
1.
Dream Quest Ends 05:31
2.
Warrior Witch of Hel 05:54
3.
Cage of Mirrors 08:42
4. The Sword of Woman (2018 demo) 5:17
5. Voyage of the Sun Chaser (2018 demo) 5:32
6. The Queen is Gone (2018 demo) 6:12