Monday 3 December 2018

Alastor – Slave To The Grave


Monday, time to introduce "Record Of The Week"

Swedish doom rockers ALASTOR are back and have hunkered down to summon the 7-tune doomish gospel "Slave To The Grave" with engineer Magnus Sörensen. ALASTOR is a four piece band from the southern parts of Sweden who plays psychedelic doom with a focus on heavy riffs on high volume. They combine their love for slow music, grindhouse horror, doom and the occult to invoke a feeling of trance and fear in their listeners. The quartet released its epic 3-song debut album "Black Magic" in early 2017 via Twin Earth Records, followed by the 2-track “Blood On Satan’s Claw” EP on Halloween the same year that also included the excellent cover "Bad Moon Rising", by CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL. Joining forces with RidingEasy Records in 2018.


The band formed 2016, consisting of Dharma Gheddon (vocals, bass, acoustic guitar and organ), Lucy Ferian on lead & acoustic guitar and organ, Terry Fying on guitar and Levi Athan on drums. "Yes, those are their given birth names, why do you ask?"

"Slave To The Grave" opens up with a sparkling thunder, church bells and spoken words in native language intro "I Döden Är Vi Alla Lika" that is translated to (In Death We Are All Equal), gives us a good hint that this album circles around the concept of death, when the last words are spoken and the church bell continues over into rumbling and doomish riffing in "Your Lives Are Worthless", an amazing tune with its repetitive heavy riffing full of distorted darkness that makes you simply knee-weak and cold sweaty. "Drawn To The Abyss" is a powerful, melodic and swinging piece, heavy riffing with stalking grooves. "N.W. 588", the album centrepiece, a catchy and groovy psychedelic rocker that sends fumes through the body. Then they change turns and serves us with the beautiful acoustic guitar driven piece where we get both great singing, dark lyrics, hand clap and flamenco in this half pace ballad "Gone". The anthemic album title tune is filled with enchanting riffs and darkness. The opus that is "Spider Of My Love", a 17-minute album closer that takes out on a journey to the end and will make your skin crawl.

The album is well balanced and with a great mix for all the instruments, expansive song structures, confident drumming, distorted, heavy and well played guitars, solid bass-line and a great swing in the melody. I'm impressed, what a debut album.

"Slave To The Grave" was released on October 31st, 2018 via RidingEasy Records.

Sum: 50 Mins of Pure Swedish Doom that you can live without!

Today's tune "Your Lives Are Worthless", taken from "Slave To The Grave", enjoy!



More info @

Official Alastor Bandcamp

Listen to ”Alastor - Your Lives Are Worthless" on Spotify!



Follow tuneoftheday.blogspot.com on Spotify!



2 comments:

Seance said...

Efter many "Sleepless Nights" och tunga grubblerier är äntligen min 2018 årsbästa lista klar.

Hur ser Tune of the Day 2018 årsbästalista ut? M

(Vill du fördjupa, vältra och förlusta dig i banden på årsbästalistan? klicka på länken namn)

Stones said...

Trevligt, tidigt ute i år. Listan är inte klar ännu, lite fin puts innan den kommer.