Heron/Empires Of Ash/Sludgelord Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Heron  are  a  band  from  Vancouver  B.C,  Canada  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Empires  of  Ash"  which  will  be  released  in  December  by  Sludgelord  Records.

  A  very  slow,  dark  and  heavy  sludge  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  music  also  mix  in  elements  of  doom  metal.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  blackened  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  clean  playing  is  added  onto  the  on  a  couple  of  tracks  they  also  show  an  influence  of  post  rock  while   the  synths  also  takes  the  music  into  a  more  atmospheric  direction  when  they  are  utilized.  Melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  at  times  along  with  the  riffing  also  having  its  repetitive  moments  and  the  whole  recording  also  sticks  to  a  slower  musical  direction  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  when  they  are  added  on  the  closing  song.

  On  this  recording  Heron  focuses  more  on  a  blackened  mixture  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  with  some  atmospheric  and  post  metal  touches.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  a  larger  scope  of  turbulent  emotions.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Heron  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  post  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Rust  And  Rot"  and  "With  Dead  Eyes".  8  out  of  10.

  

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Heron Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?

Jamie: We have been working hard with little tours and local shows to promote the album as well as writing new material. We have a few original tracks in the works as well as some killer covers that we hope to add to the set soon.

2.Recently you have released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from your 2 previous ep's?

Scott : The new album A Low Winters Sun is almost an extension of our last EP Fire Twin. We re recorded two of the three songs and added them into our full length. The Great Attractor and Fire Twin are both such epic tracks that we felt they belonged on a full length. The album was recorded by Jesse Gander at Rain City Recorders in Vancouver. He has worked with many amazing, heavy bands so it was an easy decision to decide to work with him. The album as a whole is quite aggressive and definitely much heavier then our first EP. We are really fucking stoked on the outcome.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore on the new album?

Jamie: Ross and I tend to touch on topics and themes such as loss, longing, depression, philosophy, and cosmology. Ross' lyrics are very stark and brutal while mine are longer and more like prose.

4.Some of your lyrics also deal with existentialism, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Jamie: The aspect of existentialism I am most drawn to is the idea that each individual is responsible for giving their life meaning. There is probably no god, and I probably only get one go around, so I'm going to try and enjoy it. To some that is very depressing. For me it's encouraging.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Heron'?

Scott: Honestly, there isn't much meaning behind the name. Ross and I played in a Sludgy Grind band back in 2011 called Cathar. The first song we wrote was called Heron. Ross drunkenly leaned into me at the end of jam and said "Heron would be a sick name for a doom band and we should make that happen" here we are 7 years later.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Scott: We have been very fortunate to play some really killer gigs over the last two years. Most of them have been opening for bands rolling through town like High On Fire, Pallbearer, Weedeater, Conan and a bunch more. Many thanks go out to Vancouver's hard working promoters for giving local bands a shot to play. In terms of our stage performance we just giver from start to finish no matter how many people are there to see us play or wether or not its a Monday night or a packed Friday gig.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

Jamie: We just wrapped up a short 5 show run in BC and Alberta. The shows were busy and we feel we were well received. Lots of copies of the album were sold and we are stoked on that! Planning to venture farther from home every tour so we plan to try an Eastern Canada or a Western US tour next. Ideally we would go to Europe after that. We have been booking more festivals lately and that is taking us to some unique shows closer to home.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of sludge and doom metal?

Jamie: We can't thank all the Metal blogs and listeners who have supported us enough. We are just four friends who like to write and play music together. The fact that other people come to shows or write reviews is very humbling and greatly appreciated.

9.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

Jamie :Scott plays in Sand Witch and they have a newer record out and play locally often. Bina has 900 projects on the go at any given time but has been playing in Mendozza for years. I have a solo project called Night Mother that is an outlet for more electronics-driven music. Ross is too busy being handsome for more musical projects.

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Scott: Every album seems to get heavier. We hope to continue to combine sludgy doomy riffs with lots of post metal breaks. We are currently working on a few new tracks that are long and pretty devastating.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Jamie: We wear our musical influences like ISIS, Sleep, Sumac, and Corrupted on our sleeves but we also listen to lots of different styles of music that contribute to our sound. On the road bands like 1914, Russian Circles, Cage Grind Noire, Burning Witch, and Midnight always end up on the playlist.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

Scott: Bina and Ross ride Motorcycles, Scott walks dogs and Jamie is a tired Dad

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

PLAY SLOW OR DON'T
HAIL SATAN, WORSHIP DOOM

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Heron/A Low Winter's Sun/Sludgelord Records/2018 CD Review

  Heron  are  a  band  from  Vancouver  B.C,  Canada  that  plays  a  blackened  and  atmospheric  mixture  of  doom  and  sludge  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "A  Low  Winter's  Sun"  which  will  be  released  by  Sludgelord  Records.

  A  very  slow,  dark  and  heavy  doom  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  music  also  brings  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  and  after  awhile  growls  and  high  pitched  screams a re  added  onto  the  recording  and  they  also  add  in  elements  of  black  metal  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  being  used  on a  few  tracks.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  good  amount  of  melody  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  clean  guitars  onto  the recording  and  at  times  the  music  gets  very  atmospheric  as  well  as  some  blast  beats  being  utilized  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  and  they  also  bring  in  a  piano's  briefly  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction  and  as  the  album  progresses  melodic  guitar  leads  are  finally  added  onto  the  recording  and  atmospheric  drones  are  used  briefly  on  the  closing  track.

  Heron  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  atmospheric  sludge  metal  and  mixes  it  with  black  and  doom  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  insignificance,  existentialism  and  loss  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Heron  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  blackened  mixture  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Of  Gods  And  Goats"  "Uncomfortable  Silence"  and  "Fire  Twin".  8  out  of  10.

https://heronvan.bandcamp.com/album/a-low-winters-sun