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This year, in an attempt to cover more music that would all-too-oft slip through the very large cracks, we're trying something new and novel around these parts. Namely, we're gonna actually publish the little one-off reviews that were previously (and arbitrarily) deemed too short for publication. In that spirit, here's a mini-review of a dreamy single worth checking out.  Written by: The Administrator If there's a single constant here at ye olde Sleeping Village, it is that I will inevitably devour anything that spawns from the creative universe of Richmond's own Jason Roberts. Besides being the mastermind behind Breaths--a band that I enjoy quite a bit, as evidenced by our multiple track premieres over the years--Jason has since started a new band with a pitch that is frankly tantalizing: "somei blend shoegaze and dream pop elements with doom and sludge metal in a way that is accessible and refreshing." I'm pleased to report that said concoction of genres is, indeed, as accessible and refreshing as promised. somei have two tracks available, with today's single in question being my favorite of the two by an admittedly narrow margin. "barbarella (melt away)" brings some doomy yet unconfrontational weight in the riff department alongside a now-trademark vocal levity, both of which serve to cast a dreamy haze--or perhaps glow--over the track as a whole. Whereas most bands that dabble in the realm of doom and sludge tend to feel intrinsically earthbound, somei leans into the ethereal, evoking the feeling of floating through cloudy skies in a hot air balloon. Outside of overtly shoegaze-y projects such a Slowdive, the closest point of comparison I have might be something like Hum, if they traded a certain sense of grounded stoicism for a more blatantly delicate tone. Despite the gentle vocal delivery, there's a uniquely somber vibe at play, like I'm sipping the nectar of melancholia. In terms of the track itself, the chorus is hooky as hell, and the track ramps up the heavy riffage towards the end for an outro that leans into the heft. While not typically one who watches music videos, the video for this particular track does reflect that doleful tone quite well through striking use of purples and yellows. I highly recommend watching/listening, the video truly does elevate the experience. While I do wish somei had more tracks available at this point, I'll certainly be giving this track (and its companion b-side, the excellent "Shaken") some quality time in rotation. Find it on bandcamp here!
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Written by: The Administrator
Greetings, dear (beloved, neglected) readers! It has admittedly been a few months, but we slumbering scribes have finally returned to our drafty scriptorium, largely thanks to today's artist in question. I've been a fan of Mae Shults' Everson Poe for a few years now, and the promise of a new album following fast on the heels of March's excellent servant was enough to draw me back into the fray. And so here we are, expansive track premiere primed and ready. Let's get into it, shall we? Everson Poe has never shied away from the long form, but with the forthcoming The Tower (Nov. 23rd via Trepanation Recordings) Mae embraces wholeheartedly the, um, even longer form. Here, she delivers two tracks that each run north of 25 minutes. As a result, both sides lean heavily into the kind of slow and elongated build that implicitly rewards in-depth listening sessions. The track we are premiering here today, "i. upright," serves as Side A, and clocks in at a trim 26 minutes and 50 seconds. If you're not already thinking about Everson Poe in terms of epic narrative, now is the time to start doing so. In the typical track premiere here at ye olde Sleeping Village, this is the part where I mention something about checking out, post-haste, the track conveniently located below the fold. However, given both the substantial length and the emotive weight of today's offering, I'll alter that recommendation. Rather than biting off more than you can realistically chew at this moment in time, I definitely recommend hitting play at a time that affords you the space and ability to actively listen and enjoy in full. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Please stretch and hydrate accordingly. Disclaimer aside: more below!
Written by: The Administrator
Welcome to Sleeping Village Micro-Reviews: Volume I! The following is a collection of very short reviews written in reaction to individual tracks submitted by a delightfully eclectic assortment of artists. The only thing the musicians featured herein all have in common? They responded to our following twitter prompt: "If you reply to this tweet within the next uhhhh 60 minutes with a link to one of your songs, I'll check it out and write a lil' micro review." And so here we are. Thank you to everyone who submitted tunes, I had a lot of fun doing this and will certainly be sending out a similar prompt again in the future. To everyone reading, I hope you find something lurking below that appeals to your tastes. Please note: we had a few submissions come in after the deadline--they will not appear here, but I will collect them all in a forthcoming Volume of Sleeping Village Micro-Reviews. If you are responsible for one of those submissions, fear not and stay tuned! Enough of my blathering. Without further ado: 
In a continuing attempt to cover more music that would all-too-oft slip through the very large cracks, we slumbering scribes are making an effort to publish the little one-off reviews that were previously (and arbitrarily) deemed too short for publication. Here's a mini-review of a crocodilian EP
Written by: The Administrator
Despite a respectable roster of dangerous critters dwelling 'round these parts, this particular scribe is fortunate to live in a place where crocodiles, um, don't. In my understanding--which is to say, quite probably in reality--these beasts frequently pluck unsuspecting adult human victims and drag them into the murky depths to drown in a scaly embrace. They represent the worst way to die, and only rank slightly below moose and hippos in the hierarchy of animals that I never want to encounter in the wild. Anyways. Listening to Edinburgh's own Cult Of Sobek is like unto the aftermath of a wrestling match with a killer croc: there's nothing left to do but succumb. Driven by a hypnotic trancelike churn and the threatening presence of bestial howls, the three tracks Cult Of Sobek deliver on debut EP Petsuchos represent the kind of damply organic and borderline psychedelic sound that I crave when it comes to crushing doom. Their sound is dredged from the mire, just the way I like it. There's a vicious aggression cleverly hidden underneath the trippier elements, and the constant sense of something lurking elevates each track in a way that I wasn't expecting. As a result, I've returned to this EP many, many times over the summer whenever the playlist requires some subtle menace. Despite feeling appropriately heavy and suffocating and bituminous, there's a sharpness that punctuates the tracks, both in terms of the cymbals throughout and sidewinding leads. In regards to the latter, look to both the title track and the tail end of "Maneater" where high-pitched leads squeal, providing excellent contrast. From a thematic perspective, the crocodilian elements shine through across the breadth of the EP. From a musical perspective, it is a very rewarding experience. Give a well-deserved listen to the mighty title track below, and check out the full EP here. Cult of Sobek - Petsuchos was released July 22nd, 2023 via Trepanation Recordings  Written by: The Administrator
In the vested interest of promoting Cool Shit that Fucks™, it is high time, methinks, to bring back a Sleeping Village feature that has been unfairly relegated to the ash heap of history. That's right, dear reader. It's time to reignite On The Horizon. Not a review per se, and not an album announcement, but a third secret thing that lurks awkwardly betwixt the two. The forthcoming project in question? Earthbong's third album, the appropriately entitled Church of Bong, which drops August 25th on some fun formats via Black Farm Records and Evil Noise Recordings--see below for release details. If the name sounds familiar, you may this trio's 2020 album Bong Rites, which we reviewed within these humble halls. 
Written by: Continuous Thunder
As a self-proclaimed aficionado of slow metal here in the Village, I find sludge metal to be one of the more intriguing sub-genres. While it’s often described as a combination of doom metal and hardcore punk, the application of those influences can vary widely from artist to artist. Naturally, this leads to a diverse pool of artists that can be described as sludge. How else would you end up with bands like Melvins and Isis under the same umbrella? I’m not usually one to stress over the minutiae of hyper-specific sub-genres and when it comes to sludge, I tend to trust my ears and I know it when I hear it. All that being said, They Grieve bring some heavy sludge. 
Written by: The Administrator
Given that this particular scribe's familiarity with (the reputedly well-acclaimed) Bloodborne verges on nonexistent, the thematic content lurking behind Soulmass' stellar Let Us Pray has zero impact on my experience. That's certainly not a bad thing–the music speaks for itself without the implicit weight of a fan's expectations when it comes to faithful lore. And damn, does the music ever speak to me. This album has been in consistent rotation ever since I received the promo, effectively holding my January and February listening habits in a fiercely tight and omnipresent stranglehold. One dreams of such albums at the top of the year. 
Written by: Continuous Thunder
What do early 20th-century serial killers, the Spanish Inquisition, and John Milton’s Paradise Lost have in common? Well, a few things, but in this particular instance, they partially inspire the first full-length album from Manchester, New Hampshire’s Dust Prophet, One Last Look Upon The Sky. Of course, these are all very dark and heavy subjects, but I can assure you that the band brings the musical heft to do them justice. Indeed, a weighty and apocalyptic atmosphere permeates the entire album, from the ethereal and mysterious intro track, “A Storm of Time & Space Part 1,” to the crushing resolution of “Bury Me Before Noon.” And the essential ingredients, the waves that carry you from shore to shore on this journey, are the almighty riffs! Dust Prophet provides fuzz-laden, head-nodding vibes contrasted nicely with quieter, haunting passages. This dynamic range is exemplified on tracks like “When the Axe Falls” and “Bury Me Before Noon.” Furthermore, ambient touches and other clever arrangements by bassist and keyboardist Sarah Wappler truly elevate the compositions and set them apart. The appropriately titled “Song 4” is especially rewarding, with new layers and complexities revealing themselves through multiple listens. 
Written by: The Administrator
The esteemable Heron are a perpetually underrated gem, and a band that continues to make its mark on our ink-splattered populace. Back in the primordial days of ye olde Sleeping Village, we briefly reviewed their (very good) A Low Winter's Sun, and in the early days of the pandemic, the excellent Time Immemorial received the Volt Thrower treatment and stamp of approval. It's my continuing assumption that everything Heron does is inherently high quality, and this latest album, Empires of Ash, may very well be their strongest and most consistent album to date. If you have enjoyed their back catalog, you'll inevitably find a lot to love with this latest. If Heron are a yet-unknown entity in your rolodex of sludgy post-metal bands, this album makes for a fantastic entry point. 
Written by: The Administrator
Each year, I inevitably spend a whole lot o' time with EPs. Is this due to my bafflingly short attention span? Yes. Is it also because EPs often feel like the perfect vehicle for a band to flaunt their strengths in a concise and well-trimmed manner? Also yes. Listening to a well-constructed EP is perhaps my favorite way to spend time with music, and so here I am, an eclectic collection of favorites gripped in outstretched grubby fingers. But first, some housekeeping! There are, assuming I counted correctly, 30 entries. I was planning on 20, but have no real interest in trimming a list of untrimmable favorites. In that spirit, hopefully you find something here that worms its way into your favorites as well. This list is not sorted by genre despite featuring a lot of different genres. I apologize for the whiplash, but sorting feels antithetical to the overall notion that listening habits should not be confined for the sake of convenient lists. And lastly, this is utterly unranked--if something appears here, please know that it comes highly, highly recommended! Anyways. Let's get into it. |
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