Secrets of the Sky - To Sail Black Waters
I don’t know what causes so many people in the East Bay (across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco, for those not from the Bay Area) to want to play Doom-infused Metal (Doom/Death, Black/Doom, etc.), but there seems to be a lot of bands in that vein coming from that area these days. Of course, the former kings of Bay Area Doom/Death Metal, Asunder, were from there. The only reason they’re the former kings and not the reigning kings is because the band is now broken up. With their departure from the scene, a number of new contenders have emerged for their spot. Secrets of the Sky is one of the bands vying for that position, and their debut LP, To Sail Black Waters, is indeed a powerful statement of intent. While not as punishingly heavy and atmospheric as old Asunder, or as sonically bleak as Lycus, this record is still in possession of plenty of good music. If there is a band that I could compare their style to, I would say that they’re like a Doom version of old Katatonia. It has a similar depressive and somber vibe, but Secrets of the Sky is decidedly heavier and a bit more progressive minded. A song like “Sunrise” does stray into Progressive Metal territory, but I’d say that this was the only track of the four here that really can be classified as that way. The others are complex, but not overly so. Even though “Sunrise” is intricate in structure, it never degenerates into that navel-gazing self-absorption that I hate so much about Progressive Metal. The remaining songs have a dark and depressive air to them and also have punishing heaviness, something that I look for in good Doom. For a debut, this is definitely an impressive release. Hopefully, this band will keep the Progressive Metal elements to a minimum because that’s the most dangerous component of the band’s sound. All too often, it will take over and the band soon starts making overly complex, narcissistic music that only other wankers will enjoy. If you’re a fan of Doom/Death or Black/Doom in the vein of Lycus or Asunder, Secrets of the Sky is well worth checking out, either live or on CD. I recommend both if possible.
(1) Comment(s)
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Jon Konrath said:
If you want to know why the East Bay is the epicenter of Doom metal, google “measure Z Oakland” and there’s your answer.
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