I have always been a fan of bands that really dont give a rats ass about convention (check out Flametal, they are awesome) and these guys fit the bill. While not ska by any means, you can definitely tell there is a huge influence which this review sums up nicely....
"Aggressive, cryptic, and noisy, The Gloominous Doom as death metal band is an easy pleaser. They tend to employ simple and to the point thrash riffs that are seamlessly fused with more brutal, heavy death metal riffs. Fans of Dismember would probably enjoy the riff work here. Also there is the nice lead work; a little harmonics and screeching guitar licks are always nice in vicious death metal like this.
The vocals are typically well done death metal vocals. Think Obsculum Obscenum era Hypocrisy vocals. For the most part it is low, gruff, monstrous growls that casually switch to harsh shrieks. Nothing amazing but they are the type of vocals you want in your death metal. The lyrics are pretty much random comical situations and amusing sci- fi scenarios which reflect well the ska attitude of silliness and fun.
But of course the main point is the ska integration. You don't actually really hear it until the third track, Gurgling Cess Pool Of Slime which is sure to create mixed reactions. Some may laugh, some may shake their head, some may be amazed, and some just may try and skank and mosh at the same time. It opens with a neat guitar based ska bridge, with the swinging base and the upbeat drum playing. Then the death metal part enters in, and the song progresses with ska vamps and death metal breaks going back in forth.
Battle In The Goblin Realms is another skanker that follows the similar pattern of ska and death metal in epic conflict. The White Mist Of Summer Mountain Road, the ending track is buffed with long rocksteady like bridges and ska breaks. However there is much more ska influence embedded in the more death metal based songs. One is that the bass is pretty prominent for death metal. Not only that but I hear a lot of walking bass lines and cool grooves bouncing along the ridged thrash riffs. Some of the riffs themselves could easily be part of a ska punk song, basing around simple catchy punk progressions. Listen "between the lines" and you can hear it.
The drums is another example of the ska influence. While he plays a good amount of classic death metal blasts, double bass, and driving thrash metal patterns, there is a lot of classic punk beats and upbeat snare pounding; a common technique used in ska punk bands.
Doomed If You Do, Doomed If You Don't, is a killer album for the ska fan who wandered into metal and grew on it, like I did. The best of both worlds is meshed together in this 29 minute release by The Gloominous Doom. Definitely a creative band that is sure to do many great things in the future."
Band Site:
http://www.myspace.com/lotsofdeadkids
The Gloominous Doom - Doomed If You Do, Doomed If You Dont:
http://...com/yev3yek
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