Phe - Glooming Dawn

Phe - Glooming Dawn

Self released - April 2020

Stoner, grunge, doom, desert

Rated: *****

The Netherlands' Phe were brought to my attention by HiVe overlord Joop himself, and oh did he deliver. Phe are a three piece playing heavy, atmospheric stoner rock with layers of harsh distortion and touches of doom. Following up on their 2017 self-titled debut, their first full-length "Glooming Dawn" will be released April 11 and is a resounding statement of purpose. The trio are in total control of their unique sound, dealing out wave after wave of riffs in gritty, weighted tones over a thrumming bass and hammering skins, with a minor sonic boom for a bass drum. Over all this noise lie the captivating vocals, a combination of raw shouts and passages that border on spoken word in their delivery, operatic and haunting like a dirtier take on Nick Cave. These elements all tie together to create an easy, smooth flow from the album's beginning to end, starting with the leaden-toned crush and nod of doom opener "Vortex". Offering respite from the pummel is "The Lion & the Snake", a dangerous mix of morose and catchy Nirvana-esque grunge that never ceases to be heavy. There's no weak track in the bunch, and "We are Gods" stands tall as one of the highlights of the album. The intro is steeped in decidedly evil doom, with satanic, echoing guitar over a writhing bass that builds in intensity with the vocals, eventually exploding into an anthemic uproar of yells and grinding, nodding riffs. Track after track, "Glooming Dawn" shows Phe to be a band in full mastery of their sonic identity, bringing a distinct and varied take on heavy that's deeply affecting and undeniably groovy.

(Written by Shasta Beest)

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