Dopes to Ethereal - I

Dopes to Ethereal - I

Self-released - 2020

Doom, Sludge, Stoner

Rated: ****

Lumbering out of Langreo, Spain comes the debut album "I" of sludge doomers Dopes to Ethereal, a record caked in grimy Sabbathian riffs with massive weight and atmosphere that's all the more impressive for being a first effort. Wasting no time in making their mission known, the four-piece tears open the gates with opener "Nimbo", wielding a rumbling, tectonic low end that's liable to quake lesser speakers into pieces. Beneath the bass's avalanche stomps a steady bashing drumbeat, building a bedrock for the ripping lead guitar tone as it spits out low and slow riffs of doom. The band's apocalyptic sound is driven home by singer Maertha's eerie, soaring vocals, adding a ghostly feel to the proceedings. The following track "Bone of Contention" is an album highlight, filled with sneering riffs honoring Iommi before accelerating into an uptempo shuffle that effectively contrasts with the later plodding, divebomb licks of "Drowned Homeland". The dynamic mix of sludge and more traditional doom continues across the record's six tracks, with rawer production lending itself to the thick, churning layers of distortion while vocalist Maertha moodily floats over it all. Dopes to Ethereal's first outing is filled to the brim with classic riffs and evil atmopshere, making for a both punishing and expressive debut that marks the Spaniards as ones to watch in the expanding heavy underground.

(Written by Kyle / Shastabeast)

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