I MISUNDERESTIMATED TOMBS
Monday, August 10th, 2009 at 4:00pm by Gary SuarezThe first time I heard Tombs‘ Relapse Records debut Winterhours was on the New York subway with iPod earbuds, which are clearly not the ideal conditions for developing an accurate initial impression of a band. I wasn’t impressed and turned it off after a few songs, likely in favor of something more familiar such as The Jonas Brothers. Recently though, I’ve given the record some undivided attention at home, where the sound is hardly state-of-the-art but at least it isn’t subject to train noises and obnoxious interruptions by my fellow passengers. Much to my surprise and delight, I fucking love Winterhours.
At various times over the course of the album’s ten tracks, I hear the presence of apparent influences like Godflesh, Neurosis, and Swans, though apparently they’re categorized as “blackened metal” by their label for some reason, which I suppose makes sense on “Filled With Secrets.” When I listen to “Gossamer” (video above!) or “Merrimack”, I’m far more inclined to to see them as the logical extension of the metalgaze sound that Jesu introduced on its first few releases and subsequently abandoned.
The band has some tour dates coming up over the next month-and-a-half, including a slot at the Planet Caravan festival and some surrounding Southern U.S. gigs with Kylesa and Bison BC. Black metal fanatics should take note that Tombs is playing one of the few Marduk U.S. tour dates–the one at New York’s Gramercy Theater on August 15, specifically–which hopefully will make up for the Blackenedfest debacle. Tombs wont be playing the August 12 gig at Sonar in Baltimore nor the August 13 gig at Johnny Brenda’s in Philly, but both Withered and recent Relapse signees Black Anvil will.
-GS
[Gary Suarez is the mindkiller. He usually manages the consistently off-topic No Yoko No. Say, why don't you follow him on Twitter?]
They are ok. Too repetitive for me though. They kinda remind me of a mix of the last Celtic Frost record meets Helmet and a little Godflesh. Something jsut doesnt do it for me about them.
I’m setting the over/under of # of times Gary receives an email taking the Jonas Bros. comment seriously at 8.
You’re assuming that I’m not actually a diehard Jonas Brothers fan.
You assume correctly, sir.
I dont’ know, fightingmike. I think anything described as a “mix of the last Celtic Frost record meets Helmet and a little Godflesh” will make me automatically stand up and take notice.
Yeah, you would think, but something about Tombs just doesnt do it for me:(
Cool band. Don’t like the vocals though. Also, quite possibly the worst video I’ve ever seen. The shots are super cheesy and ridiculous. If you’re gonna make a video of just the band playing, you’ve gotta do way fucking better than this.
I guess the video kinda reminded me of Helmet’s video for “Unsung”. I’m a sucker for nostalgia.
this just sounds like a cover up for not jumping on the bandwagon soon enough
I want to like this band more than I do. They have the right elements, but just haven’t made a great album yet, IMO. I don’t understand why people say they’re so great. I’ve heard their album a bunch of times, but it just hasn’t clicked yet. Maybe next time they release an album their style will have been refined to greatness…
SUAREZ YOU HAVE CONVINCED ME TO GIVE THIS ALBUM ANOTHER TRY.
YOU’RE THE ONLY GUY I CAN TRUST ROUND HERE HOMIE.
I’m not promising that you’ll love it like I do, but it’s worth another listen for sure.
This band definetly rocks, go see them live.
I probably wouldn’t dislike this song so much if they didn’t play the same riff for the first 1 minute 15 seconds. It just puts a bad taste in my mouth so I can’t really enjoy the rest of the song.
This song has some Devin Townsend-y influence I reckon
Album of the year.
I agree, it takes more than one listen to open up. But when it does, it turns out to be quality. Not the album of the year for me, but one of my favourites for sure.
These guys absolutely KILL live. I think the Helmet + Godflesh comparisons are fair.
Mike Hill rules. Check out Anodyne if you haven’t…I’m sure you have though. ha
It’s a good’n, fo sho.