Therapist
& FAT - Split (2024)
By Flork!
Release Note: This is a pre-review of the album which will be released on 26th January 2024 as digital and limited cassette release (JBLK-14, 2024).
In the enigmatic realms of Slovak doom metal, which is, unfortunately, the least strong of all the metal genres in the country, the collaborative effort between Therapist and FAT unfolds a mesmerizing auditory journey that breathes much needed life into the scene. The album, which comprises two expansive tracks and are cover versions of songs from the distant past (Therapist covers Lazy by Low, released 1994, while FAT covers In the Light by Led Zeppelin, released 1975), stretches the boundaries of doom metal by blending elements of black, shoegaze and post doom, all the while portraying a vivid portrait of a cold, barren landscape of mountains and woods (even nothingness), laden heavily with human desperation based on the content of the originals. These cover versions actually blew my mind, and evoking the spirits of folk tales and legends that echo through the vast expanse.
The album opens with The Therapist cover of Lazy by Low, which is a sprawling 20-minute sonic odyssey that plunges the listener into the heart of a human relationship approaching its end, where resentment and frustration prevail over the lack of effort and participation from the other half. The doom metal elements create a brooding atmosphere, reminiscent of looming shadows of ancient trees, while the shoegaze influences add an ethereal quality, mirroring the loneliness and emptiness one usually feels when a breakup is on the horizon. Listeners can feel the black metal undertones surge through the composition like a turbulent storm, encapsulating the raw power of human love and conflict. This is a solid, heavy track full of dark tones and drones, completely instrumental with no need or aide of human vocals. It is a vessel for introspection, where the listener can navigate the haunting terrain of solitude and despair within the music's intricate folds.
The absence of vocals in the Therapist cover is compensated by the monologues and heavy singing in FAT’s version of the Led Zeppelin track. And, although the instrumentation alone speaks volumes, echoing the eerie stillness of a world wrapped in the embrace of our internal struggles, the vocals themselves are pretty intense. Together, the haunting melodies and atmospheric layers of monologues and anguished vocals create a sonic tapestry that encapsulate the desperation felt by the solitary figures who navigate the unknown directions of roads we fail to see in the darkness of our lives. In the light you will find the road, you will find the road.
The narrative for both tracks, which delves deeper into the melancholic aura created by the cooperation of the two bands, serves as a brushstroke on the canvas of human mystique. Also, the prolonged duration of the compositions allows for a gradual immersion into the emotions and images of lonely people scattered across the woods and valleys or cities on our planet. And so, the music becomes a soundtrack to the tales of those who face the harsh realities of life in unforgiving terrain.
And the Florkster’s prognosis? Therapist & FAT is an amazing testament to the emotive power of doom metal, either instrumental or with vocals. The collaborative effort between Therapist and FAT transcends the boundaries of the genre, creating an immersive experience that contrasts the haunting beauty and mystery of our universe and the emptiness of the human soul. This is a sonic journey that provides a musical sanctuary for those seeking solace in the embrace of loneliness and isolation. Two talented bands that complement each other well.
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Order Info:
Cassette will be available for purchase here:
https://jablkadalekoodstromu.bandcamp.com/
or via e-mail: jablkadalekoodstromu@gmail.com
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Album Credits:
Therapist - Lazy (Low cover).
Recorded in Golden Hive studio in Prague.
Mixed and mastered by Amak Golden.
Therapist are:
Patrik - guitars, drums & vocals
Kristián - bass
FAT - In the Light (Led Zeppelin cover).
Self-recorded during summer 2023 in Lučenec.
Mixed and mastered by Peter Tatarka, Tetradrot Studio.
FAT are:
Radix - guitar, synth
Prasiak - guitar, vocals, synth
Jozef K. - bass
Fog - drums
Artwork & layout by Samuel Duleba @getsomekindofsamuel
Experience the magic of our split record, featuring two otherworldly songs that resonate with our deepest passions.
Thank you for embracing our music and purchasing this tape!
Therapist & FAT
Released by Jablká ďaleko od stromu in January 2024 (JBLK-14).
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