Black Pyramid - Adversarial (album review)

Cover artwork by Eli Wood.

There's no other way to start a review of Black Pyramid's third album, 'Adversarial' without mentioning the change in line-up, and it's an important change.  Actually, the change took place a while ago.  Before Black Pyramid's second album 'II' came out in January of last year, Andy Beresky, guitarist and vocalist of the three piece had left the band.  In his place now stands Darryl Shepard, a veteran musician of numerous bands and projects over the years (see his profile on Encyclopedia Metallum), including The Scimitar a new side project with Black Pyramid bassist Gein and drummer Brian Banfield (Blood Stone Sacrifice).  The band name was actually inspired by the opening track of 'Adversarial', "Swing the Scimitar", but we'll get to that in a moment.  The personnel shift is significant and changes the overall tone and sound of the band, of course it does, you don't replace a guitarist / vocalist in a single guitar band set up without it having a major impact.

Where Black Pyramid once embraced a hardcore punk / doom crossover sound mixed with the occasional elements of Irish folk, that trademark sound has been largely swept aside, although not entirely (see instrumental "Issus").  On 'Adversarial', Black Pyramid move toward a more head down power doom sound, a sound that is somehow more befitting the band name.  "Swing the Scimitar" successfully evokes images of Arabian desert raids in the Hyborian Age.  A swirling riff kicks up sand storms in the mind.  Men with shrouded faces descend from the clifftops whose blades are swifter than the wind.  As not only the opener but the longest track on the record, it sets the tone and locks it in, while also setting a high standard for the rest of the album to follow.

As I mentioned in my Blizaro 'Blak Majicians' review (read it!), I discovered the song "Aphelion" on the Obelisk podcast for Stoner Hands of Doom XII in August of last year.  It was from a split seven inch single with Odyssey and it was Shepard's first recorded release with the band.  It's a great song that was actually a Top 5 in the pre-blog Doom Charts.  The song has been re-recorded here in a roomier eight minutes plus version that hangs that big riff on the clothesline and airs it out for all it's worth.

"Onyx and Obsidian" continues that Arabian desert vibe that all the longer songs on 'Adversarial' all share, particularly in the middle of this track.  Thumping rhythms and killer octave shifts create a sitar feel from Shepard's guitar.  The album closer, "Onyx and Obsidian" also clocks in at over eight minutes long and is the most adventurous and epic track on the album.

'Adversarial' finds that the band has moved on from what they were doing with Beresky in the fold.  In many ways, it's a meatier sound that is more substantial even with only 5 tracks and about a quarter of an hour shorter than 'II'.  In other ways the usually prolific band may have lost some 'real world' momentum in the process of swapping front men, but that doesn't really matter with the album in your hands and the music in your ears.  Beresky, by the way, has since moved on to Palace in Thunderland and I like what he's doing there now more than what he was with Black Pyramid, while at the same time, I like Black Pyramid more with Shepard in front.  Far as this reviewer is concerned, the situation, musically, is win-win.

Highlights include: "Onyx and Obsidian" and "Aphelion"

Rating: 4.5/5


Tracklist:
1). Swing the Scimitar (11:59)
2). Bleed Out (5:39)
3). Issus (3:56)
4). Aphelion (8:32)
5). Onyx and Obsidian (8:23)
Total Run Time: 46:51

Darryl Shepard - guitar / vocals
Gein - bass
Clay Neely - drums / synth
From: Boston, Massachusetts

Genre: Doom, Stoner, Psychedelic

Reminds me of: Stone Machine Electric, Wo Fat

Release Date: April 2, 2013

Suggested listening activity for fellow non-stoners: Arriving at the sand-smothered gates of the ancient ziggurat, scale the outer wall and let the siege begin ...

Better Review:
The Obelisk

Black Pyramid facebook

GET IT HERE

OR HERE (digital)

Hour of Power 03/30/13 (playlist)

1. U Turn (The Quartet of Woah! / Ultrabomb) 2013 - Brand New Video!
2. Stonehill Universe (Mamont / Passing Through The Mastery Door) 2012 - Brand New Video!
3. Tower of Silence (Cathedral / The Last Spire) 2013 - Brand New Video!
4. Polygon of Eyes (Scorpion Child) 2013 - Brand New Video!
5. All Returns (Wolf People) 2013 - Brand New Video! [Thanks to The Soda Shop for this one.  Those harmonies are right out of the mid-sixties!]
6. Valley of the Sun Indiegogo campaign 2013
7. Void Traveler (The Scimitar) 2013 [First brand new sounds from brand new band The Scimitar featuring two thirds of Black Pyramid!]
8. Aphelion (Black Pyramid / split single w/ Odyssey) 2012
9. Black Sun (Kadavar / ST) 2012 [New fan video I found earlier today.  Somehow it's absolutely enthralling.]
10. Lucid (Mount Salem / Endless) 2013
11. [DEVENTY] A Slow & Heavy Ride (Iron Hearse / Get In The Hearse) 2013 [Deventy cover]

Hour of Power 03/02/13 (playlist)

1. Final Spell (Weed Priest / ST) 2013
2. Onyx & Obsidian (Black Pyramid / Adversarial) 2013
3. Slumber Sermon (Mansion) 2013
4. Southern Sun (Devil / Gather The Sinners) 2013
5. Turn The Tide (Spiritual Beggars) 2013
6. Blood On My Hands (Void of Sleep / Tales Between Reality & Madness) 2013
7. Bring Down The Rain (Sideburn / IV Monument) 2012
8. Earthrise (Vinum Sabbatum / Bacchanale Premiere) 2012
9. Delayed Space (Romannis Mötte) 2013

Hour of Power 01/26/13 (playlist)

Highlights from the week of 01/20/13 - 01/26/13

This week's Hour of Power continues the precedent that has been established recently with a quartet of new and official video clips.  Aleph Null returned this week after a year's absence to unleash their second heavy helping and released their video for "Belladonna Wreath".  Mothership's "City Nights" was premiered on The Soda Shop.  While The Black Angels and Blacktones also premiered new music videos this week.  From Boston, Black Pyramid also shared a new song from their upcoming album on Soundcloud which was uploaded by Doom Lord while Ice Dragon very quietly expanded their "The Soul's Midnight" single into a 4 song EP and the Doom Lord returned as his alter ego 666MrDoom to upload the new track "Winterwind" with lyrics.  The Hour of Power cruises into overdrive with a trio of highlights from the mere three reviews featured on the blog this week while the hour comes to a stunning conclusion with Black Widow.  I was shocked and saddened this week when news came out about Clive Jones of Black Widow being very ill.  This just days after mentioning the band in a post here on the blog (a free CD to the first person to comment on the bottom of this page with the correct corresponding post).  I posted a video of "Come To The Sabbat" on my facebook wall then promptly messaged him to let him know I cared and that my thoughts were with him.  He replied with the suggestion that I check out the song that closes out this playlist, "Hail Satan" from Black Widow's most recent album 'Sleeping With Demons', featuring Tony Martin (ex-Black Sabbath).  Enjoy ...

1. Belladonna Wreath (Aleph Null / Belladonna EP) 2013
2. City Nights (Mothership / ST) 2012
3. Don't Play With Guns (The Black Angels / Indigo Meadow) 2013
4. Our God (The Blacktones / Distorted Reality EP) 2012
5. Onyx And Obsidian (Black Pyramid / Adversarial) 2013
6. Winterwind (Ice Dragon / The Soul's Midnight EP) 2013
7. Matterhorn (Egypt / Become The Sun) 2012
8. Deja Vu (The Gentlemen Bastards / ST) 2012
9. Out of Focus (Blue Cheer / Vincebus Eruptum) 1968
10. Hail Satan (Black Widow / Sleeping With Demons) 2011

2012 Chronicle (Year in review) part 1 - Best of January

Here it is, as promised.  Part 1 of 12 in the year in review ...

January 1 - BLOOD RED WATER (Tales of Addiction & Despair EP) - The year started strongly with the demonic sludge of Italian band Blood Red Water. Their EP "Tales of Addiction and Despair" is a punishing 23 minutes of relentless sludgy doom with the most despairing vocals one can hope to hear  Grab it for free here. Highlights include "Ungod" and "Considerations/Commiserations". Rating 3.5/5

January 4 - IN THE COMPANY OF SERPENTS (ST) - In the Company of Serpents' self titled debut is "best heard through a cloud of dopesmoke and bad vibes", according to the band. Their take on sludge is extremely groove laden and highly addictive. 37 minutes and 6 songs of brutal UK sludge.  You can buy their tape or download the album here. Highlights include "Dirtnap" and "Immolation". Rating 4/5

January 5 - Son of a Witch (ST)

January 5 - ALEPH NULL (Dale EP) - This German doom band released one of the year's better EPs in Dale and it's absolutely FREE on bandcamp.  The title track and "Kill the Colossus" are worth your time (or a possible donation) alone, superbly catchy, heavy and dark.  I haven't been able to get "Kill the Colossus" out of my head since I first heard it.  The rest is great too.  Highlights include "Kill The Colossus" and "Dale".  Rating 4/5

January 8 - Hesper Payne (The Strange Tale of Samuel Gonzalez)

January 16 - Doublestone (Set The World Ablaze)

January 21 - THE BAD LIGHT (Marrow of Sound) - This Californian based band has one of the most unique takes on stoner rock, blending unusual performance styles that sound almost jazz-like, southern fried and lazy, yet the music still comes out distinctly stoner rock.  Sun soaked is a term that comes to mind when thinking about this band.  Their playing styles are often unpredictable and they will push the tension of a build up in a song to the absolute breaking point ... then casually run through the main parts.  The overall effect is something to behold.  This EP really made its hay for me on summer mornings after work.  I can't explain it, but it was the perfect soundtrack for those moments.  You can find the 6 song EP here on bandcamp.  Highlights include "Hypathia" and "Hours Burn".  Rating 4.5/5

January 23 - BEHOLD! THE MONOLITH (Defender, Redeemist) - Excellent, excellent proggy doom with thrash elements Behold! The Monolith's sophomore effort holds not a single bad moment.  They site High on Fire and Mastodon as influences but that really doesn't tell the tale as this band sounds to have transcended their roots and have crafted something highly individualistic.  It's a sci-fi fantasy soundtrack that creates its own visuals.  It's Lord of the Rings in space, it's Star Trek in Mordor.  It's progressive, thrashy doom with neck breaking song structures and killer riffs.  This music is timeless and will be something I come back to for years to come.  And the cover art is excellent.  Get it here. Highlights include "Halv King" and "Desolizator".  Rating 5/5

January 24 - SUMMER LOVE (ST demo) - Anybody who tells you they didn't initially come to this one for the cover art is lying, yet the music found within was truly a pleasant surprise.  This was something I discovered way later in the year but when I found it I made up for the lost time in a major way.  Their name makes it impossible to find any info on the band and their bandcamp page is spare with info as well.  By spare I mean "a complete lack of".  Whatever.  Great doom inspired psychedelic rock with the same vocal effect used by Ozzy on "Planet Caravan" on every song.  That may sound like a gimmick and it may not be everybody's cup of tea but it seems to hit the right spot.  This music is Acid Drenched and terrific.  Highlights include "Voice of a Queen" and "By the Wayside".  Rating 4.5/5

January 27 - PILGRIM (Misery Wizard) - Slow and heavy as a lead bath the lads in Pilgrim play like wizards weaving a spell to slow down and eventually stop all life functions everywhere in the universe.  They make you feel every note and for that reason not a drop of creativity is wasted as the message sinks in heavy as a browbeating. Slow, slow, doom.  Get it here. Highlights include "Astaroth" and "Adventurer".  Rating 3.5/5

January 30 - SPELLJAMMER (Vol. II) - This Swedish foursome's second release totaled three songs and some 26 minutes, each song over 8 minutes long.  Vol. II unleashed a wicked sound of punishing, groovy doom riffs and wailing echoed vocals that sound like a mountaintop lamentation.  The songs were long but were neither repetitive nor overly structured.  The songs were long because the riffs were monumental.  Grab it here.  Highlights include "Electric Ground" and "Aun's Mountain".  Rating 5/5

January 31 - BLACK PYRAMID (II) - Before parting ways with original guitarist / vocalist Andy Beresky the band recorded their second full-length album.  Before releasing 'II' they parted ways with Beresky.   This is a release that sits in no man's land but it produced some very memorable and catchy moments.  Their take on doom was punkier and vaguely Irish sounding in places.  Get it here.  Highlights include "Sons of Chaos" and "Mercy's Bane".  Rating 3.5/5

Best Album from January 2012:
'Defender, Redeemist' by BEHOLD! THE MONOLITH

Best Song from January 2012:
"Kill the Colossus" by ALEPH NULL