Bow & Arrow - Bow & Arrow
Self-released - 2019
Doom, Sludge
Rated: ****
Prepare to weather a siege of heavy from Columbus, Ohio’s latest doom export, Bow & Arrow, on their self-titled debut EP. Compromised of four tracks of visceral, sludgy doom, the short release sees the three piece crush with a menacing and physical presence, complimented by the raw production and filthy buzz saw guitar. In true doom fashion, the riffs come low and slow, repeating Sabbath and High on Fire inspired grooves over thundering drums and a thrumming bass placed high in the mix. After a vicious instrumental start to opener “Hunger”, the multiple vocals barge in to top it all off, barking out eerie, guttural shouts in unison to add a final element of danger to the aural bludgeoning. Second track “Enemy” jacks up the foreboding atmosphere even further with a creeping intro that builds into more grinding low end and thudding war drums. Dire warnings are cried out over the noise, and a solo emerges that could rend amps in two by tone alone. The third and shortest cut, “Kiss”, tweaks the formula slightly, however, with a drifting riff that answers the question “what if Nebula doomed?”, before quickly shifting into high gear with up tempo pummel and piercing guitar. To bring things to a suitably crushing end, closer “Overthrown” keeps up the energy with a churning, driving rhythm emphasized by stop-start crash liable to snap the hairiest of hesher necks. Primal and heavy as hell, Bow & Arrow distinguish themselves from the pack with a caustic and gritty sound that brings atmosphere and weight in equal measure, promising wicked things to come from these Ohio brutes.
(Written by Kyle / Shastabeast)
