Tuesday 11 August 2015

Serial Hawk - Searching For Light (Album Review)


Release date: Sept 18th 2015. Label: Bleeding Light Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Searching For Light: Tracklisting

1.Desolate
2.Lying in Wait
3.Of Decay
4.Searching for Light

Band Members:

Will, Adam, Sean

Review:

Serial Hawk finally release their debut album – Searching For Light – and it’s a glorious heavy slab of Sludge/Stoner/Doom Metal riffs. The album has 4 tracks and runs for 39 mins altogether. If you dig bass-driven and down tempo Sludge based grooves then you need to check this album out as Serial Hawk mean business.

Opening track – Desolate – is an epic slice of down-tuned riffs with the band creating a stripped back approach with their music. The band play primarily at a slow pace with the doom based vibes given time to breathe as the band add a slight noise rock effect which will appeal to fans of Kowloon Walled City. There’s no denying Serial Hawk have got it where it counts. The Riffs. There’s tons of them as the band fuse different styles together for a true doom and gloom experience.

Second track – Lying In Wait – is the shortest track on the album but that doesn’t stop it being one of the exciting tracks on the album. It’s a noise-rock driven Sludge/Stoner little number with the band adding layers of psychedelic noise. The vocals are a mixture of clean based vocals and harsher that are easy to understand whilst creating a sense of fear at times. It’s a very dark track that gives Serial Hawk the chance to experiment with their sound. Shades of Neurosis/ISIS Post-Metal appears towards the end of the song.

Third track – Of Decay – is more of the same groove-laden punishment with the band playing a mixture of slow and fast paced Sludge/Doom/Stoner riffs. Serial Hawk experiment with their sound once again, Adding different noises and effects that centres on the bass heavy down tempo sound that is fast becoming Serial Hawk’s signature sound.

Fourth Track – Searching For Light is an epic 18 minute track sees Serial Hawk creating a true sonic musical odyssey that’s very unforgiving. The song starts slowly with the band adding different noises against a cold ambient backdrop. It’s very bleak at times as Serial Hawk create what can be considered as their first” classic” song. Parts Sludge, Stoner, Doom and Noise now merged with Ambient rhythms and nightmarish Drone sounds. The vocals are sparse and when they do appear, there are very hard to make out at times. That’s no bad thing as Serial Hawk main focus is creating heavy as hell riffs that will leave you begging for more. 

Searching For Light is Serial Hawk’s defining moment for people to take notice of their huge potential as this album screams out for your attention. The production is first rate. The atmosphere is bleak, loud, heavy and very atmospheric. Serial Hawk have created a monster. Miss it and miss out.

Thanks to Cat Jones at Southern Cross PR for the promo. Searching For Light is available to buy from Bleeding Light Records on CD/DD/Vinyl.

Words by Steve Howe

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