THE BEAST

There’s something about the harsh urban landscapes of Chicago that makes it a breeding ground for sludgy doom metal. Indian, Bongripper, The Atlas Moth, Ledge... and that’s just for starters. Another, lesser known name but equally deserving of the spotlight are Pale Horseman, who have been prolific yet consistent in high quality since 2012. Their fifth album, For Dust Thou Art, continues the band’s tradition of mixing high-grade misanthropy with apocalyptic visions, and a taste for thundering riffs and rhythms.

Things kick off in magnificent fashion via “Tundra”, with the heaviness of Entombed joining the grandiosity of Mastodon’s sludgy past or Neurosis’ present. Jason Schryver is a powerhouse on drums, driving each song forward at a pace that forces every neck to bend. His three co-conspirators work in almost hypnotic harmony as an array of beautiful melodies (“Disenchanter”), resounding Godflesh-esque riffs (“Archangel”), and thick, intricate bass playing (“Archangel”). The vocals - shared between Eric Ondo and Andre ‘Flesh’ Almaraz - also vary, interweaving a melodic sneer and strained howl echoing into the abyss.

The whole package sounds immaculate, as is par for the course - this is a band whose previous records have been engineered by some of their biggest influences, including Dennis Pleckham (Bongripper), Noah Landis (Neurosis) and Justin Broadrick (Godflesh), with the current one by Sanford Parker (Buried At Sea). Each of the six slabs has its own identity, and by the time the record finishes, it feels fresh enough to flip over back to Side A and start again.

While Pale Horseman may seem a young foal, its members have been around in bands for more than twenty years. With this experience, the result is a record that guarantees you are in good hands if you need a dose of sludge-coated doom to get you through difficult times.

Pale Horseman are:

Rich Cygan -Bass (ex-Couldron)

Jason Schryver -Drums (Making Ghosts)

Eric Ondo -Guitars, Vocals (ex-Couldron, ex-Maimed, Johnny Vomit)

Andre  Almaraz -Guitars, Vocals (Deepspacepilots, ex-Abortus, ex-Couldron, ex-Souls Demise, ex-Dogflesh)

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Tracklisting:
SIDE A:

1. Tundra

2. Scourge

3. Archangel

SIDE B:

1. Disenchanter

2. Vagrants

3. Cydonia