Thursday 9 February 2017

GOYA - Harvester Of Bongloads (Album Review)


Release date: March 03rd 2017. Label: Opoponax Records. Format: CD/Vinyl

Harvester Of Bongloads – Tracklisting

1.Omen: I. Strange Geometry, II. Fade Away, III. Life Disintegrates 20:07
2.Germination 02:18
3.Misanthropy On High 11:46
4.Disease 06:21

Band Members

Jeff Owens - vocals/guitar
Nick Lose - drums
Sonny DeCarlo - bass

Review

Goya’s third album – Harvester Of Bongloads – sees the band take a more stripped back and minimalist approach with four songs of heavy Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal. It’s experimental at times though it still offers the heavy doomed out sounds that Goya have become known for. The album lasts forty minutes but the album feels twice as long though in a good way.

Opening track – Omen: I. Strange Geometry, II. Fade Away, III. Life Disintegrates – is a twenty minute plus opus that allows Goya to slowly create a heavy psychedelic atmosphere. Pounding drums and slowly played riffs slowly drift in and out for a cautious approach. Ambient trippy sounds blend in the background seamlessly with the swirling doom and gloom riffs.

The doom metal riffs appear around the five minute mark with Jeff’s vocals making a welcome return. This song is broken down into individual chapters and as the song changes tone and direction at different parts of the song. You can still expect a fair amount of sludge based and fuzz driven riffs. The lyrics have quite a topical and political feel as Goya don’t shy away from difficult subjects on the album.

Second track – Germination – sees Goya opting for a more direct heavy Doom Metal sound that stays heavy throughout despite the short two minute runtime. It’s a shame this song doesn’t last longer as Goya manage to create a cool instrumental and progressive psych sound that leaves you wanting more.

Third track – Misanthropy On High – is an eleven minute epic with Goya creating another round of heavy distorted doom guitars with sludgy riffs adding a sense of realism. The atmosphere stays bleak throughout the album but this song really drives that sense home. The vocals are delivered with conviction with hard-hitting lyrics to match.

The fourth track – Disease – sees Goya play one final round of heavy doom/sludge grooves that merges progressive stoner based sounds. With Black Sabbath sadly retiring and Sleep taking forever to release a new album, it’s cool that Goya are around to show the next generation of Doom/Sludge/Stoner bands in how to deliver a first class Doom Metal album. 

This album sees Goya finally come of out of the shadows from their more famous peers and to stake a claim for one of the best Doom Metal bands around.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Goya for the promo. Harvester Of Bongloads will be available to buy on CD/Vinyl via Opoponax Records from March 03rd 2017.

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