Barishi – “Blood from the Lion’s Mouth”
Album Reviews | Dec 7th, 2016
Record Label: Season of Mist
Genre: Gritty progressive Metal, post metal
Website: https://barishi.bandcamp.com/
Buy on Amazon.com
The full length album is the band’s first on Season of Mist records. This is a follow up to the Vermont bands’ ‘Endless Howl’ EP which originally caught my attention when “Hour Of The Wolf” was played on the Jasta Podcast.
Sound wise, it sounds like a more acceptable version the Blackened metal stylings of Deaf Heaven. I think their self-description of “gritty progressive metal” works here. Usually the term progressive metal makes you think of Dream Theater, but instead here this has more in common with Mastodon and Gojira with a touch of the more adventurous side of Lamb Of God. The songs take you on a journey with a melodic ambient telecaster driven metal.
I think the guitar choice really makes this album stand out and give it a distinct sound. Great guitar work overall, this guy a tasteful shredder. Vocalist Sascha Simms does a great job lyrically screaming out over the colorful palate tying all this great musicianship together. At times the music comes off as the soundtrack to a triumphant adventure with songs like “Death Moves in Silence” and “The Deep”. Even on the album’s shorter songs like “Spectral Order”, “Bonesetter,” you still feel like you’re getting a lot in what falls into what people used to call ‘Thinking Man’s metal.’ My only complaint is the album ends too soon, leaving you wanting more.
Bottom line: If you like Mastodon and Gojira, this is right up your alley. If you dig this, I’d strongly recommend checking out the ‘Endless Howl’ EP as well for more.
Notable tracks: Grave of the creator, Bonesetter, the Spectral Order
Overall Rating:
