Barrow Downs - Ritual

 

Barrow Downs - Ritual
Self-released - August 2020
Doom, sludge, psych
Rated: ****

Unearthed from some dark corner of New Jersey are newcomers Barrow Downs, with their pummeling debut Ritual. Filled with traditional doom vibes and thoroughly evil, Barrow Downs' four tracks forge a path through familiar, beloved ground with a fresh modern heaviness. Opener "Witch's Glade" starts with a rolling, classic metal vibe before the floor gives way and the low end divebombs, heralding a stomping riff with thick, raw distortion and soaring clean vocals. The furiously busy kit-work carries forward the tunes' considerable heft into a surprisingly smooth, psyched out solo, which leads right back into ripping fuzz and an avalanche of drums. Follow up "Elder God" heightens the sense of danger further by slowing things down to an ominous crawl, wielding a swampy and rumbling low end. The nod is irresistible, and the tectonic riffs are only broken by barreling drum fills and an eerie, spacey solo. The second half of the album is no less crushing, and shows further variation on Barrow Downs,' sludgy doom with the Sabbath bounce of "City of Bones" and High on Fire energy in the track's gnashing guitar and manic skins. Bringing the tome to an epic close is the title track, with growled vocals spinning the tale of a witchy black mass over riffs of Conan-level oppression. Barrow Downs, have stepped onto the scene with the confidence and skill of a much older band, crafting a sinister sound with mammoth heft in their brilliant take on sludge and doom.

(Written by Shasta Beast)

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