On the fourth position, we find DOOL, Netherlands most notorious rock musicians with their sophomore album "Summerland"
The "Summerland" is a dark piece, heavy lyrics but musically kinda soft, laidback, psychedelic, very dynamic, and grand. It is a fairly strenuous journey that you will enter, the songs themselves are also quite widespread. A lot of twists and turns so at it's first listening, it may be a little difficult to grasp and understand its meaning. Give it a few more spins and the heavens will open and hopefully, the token falls down. One thing is clear that they have changed the route towards a different dimension. They bend their musical nurture to their own creation, searching for a true identity.
A glorious release by DOOL. Read the full review here!
Check out tomorrow for number three in our top 50 of the Best albums 2020, enjoy your evening.
Today's tune "God Particle", taken from "Summerland".
For this week we have the long-anticipated release of their sophomore album "Summerland" by the Netherlands most notorious rock musicians have gathered to form DOOL, a dark rock band featuring drummer Micha Haring from celebrated cult rockers THE DEVILS BLOOD and the country's most infamous rock singer, the striking Ryanne van Dorst along with the two guitarists, Nick Polak (GOLD) and Omar Iskandr (EDEN TO ASHES, TURIA) and the bass player JB Van Der Wal (HERDER, ABORTED).
"Summerland" was recorded by Martin Ehrencrona (TRIBULATION, IN SOLITUDE) and mixed by CULT OF LUNAs Magnus Lindberg. Following the release, the band was going to play at Roadburn Festival’s main stage as a premiere show, followed by a European headline tour late April/May, both have been canceled.
"Summerland" is a dark piece, heavy lyrics but musically kinda soft, laidback, psychedelic, very dynamic, and grand. It is a fairly strenuous journey that you will enter, the songs themselves are also quite widespread. A lot of twists and turns so at it's first listening, it may be a little difficult to grasp and understand its meaning. Give it a few more spins and the heavens will open and hopefully, the token falls down. One thing is clear that they have changed the route towards a different dimension. They bend their musical nurture to their own creation, searching for a true identity.
The album touches many different genres over its playtime of fifty-four minutes spread over nine tunes, and during this time you will get some SISTERS OF MERCY, RUSH, MUSE, KILLING JOKE, GHOST and KATATONIA but all the pieces from their inspirations are used sparely to create a sound that will fascinate the listener, and it works great as the sound is really good and I have to raise my hand to van Dorst vocals that are just incredible on this album.
The album opens up with the two singles "Sulphur & Starlight" and "Wolf Moon" were both follow the same path where the left off with the debut. Both are radio-friendly tunes with catchy lyrics and a big atmosphere. and the mystery and mournfulness piece "Summerland" that in the end wakes up and serves a beautiful and very melodic dual guitar solo. To the grunge rocker "A Glass Forest" is an interesting tune that steps out from the box a little. Back in order when the post-metal tune "The Well’s Run Dry", enters the room. "Be Your Sins" is a great rocker with a cool hook that gives high five to a Swedish rock band until it's time for the grandiose ending in "Dust & Shadow". It's a bold release by the band. If it gets some attention it will surely gain some success. I will follow their path into the future as I do like what I hear.
Sum: A glorious release by DOOL.
Today's tune "Wolf Moon" is taken from "Summerland", the album was released on April 10th, 2020. "Wolf Moon’ is a song about alternative realities, created by choice and chance. In the video, we explore these different realities, while at the same time serenading the 90s music videos we grew up with and still very much adore. The video is directed by Nina Spiering and shot by Robijn Voshol", enjoy!
If there was one European rock band that raised more than a few eyebrows in the last two years, it is DOOL. The Dutch found their debut album "Here Now, There Then" in many "best of 2017" lists and reader polls, got it as Record Of The Week on July 2017, read it here! They have constantly touring the continent, playing every festival from Roadburn to Wacken, House Of The Holy to Graspop.
The "Love Like Blood" EP will shorten the wait for their second album with a cover of the eponymous KILLING JOKE classic and as well as live versions of "She Goat" and "In Her Darkest Hour" from Rock Hard Festival capturing DOOL's unbridled live power.
Singer/guitarist Ryanne van Dorst comments on the choice of the EP's lead track: "Apart from being a massive hit during our childhood years that was weaved into the very structure of our musical beings, "Love Like Blood" remains a gem to revisit over and over. And so we did on our first tour as a band, listening to it in the van, and started wondering what it would sound like without its signature staccato beat. Back home, we took the plunge and dived deep into its dreamy waters. After a few rehearsals, we started playing our version live and grew to it the more often we did. By now, it almost doesn't feel like a cover song anymore, so we decided to record and share it with you. Here's our tribute to one of the best songs ever written."
Featuring members of critically-acclaimed dark rock band THE DEVILS BLOOD and death rock group GOLD, DOOL is an explosive, unbridled force. The Dutch band radiates an undeniable raw energy that blends classic hard rock, gothic pop and psychedelic metal to create their own dynamic sound. Audibly influenced by bands such as SISTERS OF MERCY and SONIC YOUTH, DOOL bends these sounds to fit its own vision, giving birth to an ominous new entity. Led by striking singer Ryanne van Dorst (ELLE BANDITA) alongside guitarists Nick Polak (GOLD) and Reinier Vermeulen (THE NEW MEDIA), bassist Job van de Zande (THE DEVILS BLOOD, MALKOVICH) and drummer Micha Haring (THE DEVILS BLOOD, THE HANDS), DOOL has become a hotly-tipped underground buzz band on the strength of its captivating debut single, "Oweynagat" and a red hot live performance at this year’s Roadburn Festival, where the group exceeded expectations as the respected fest’s 2016 'Roadburn Introduces…' artist.
Monday, new week, time to introduce "Record Of The Week"
"Here Now, There Then" is the debut album from Holland's most notorious rock musicians DOOL. The band, consisting of Micha Haring (THE DEVILS BLOOD, THE HANDS) on drums, Job van de Zande (THE DEVILS BLOOD, MALKOVICH) on bass, Reinier Vermeulen (THE NEW MEDIA, LIAR OF GOLGOTHA) on guitar and Nick Polak (GOLD) on guitar and the striking singer Ryanne van Dorst (ELLE BANDITA).
"Here Now, There Then" is influenced by bands like BLUE OYSTER CULT, SISTERS OF MERCY and of course THE DEVILS BLOOD, it's not as occult THE DEVILS BLOOD, but the atmosphere is there, it's very dynamic where they alternating shreds of the darkness, gothic and classic rock with bits of psychedelia.
An limited Clear Vinyl version of "Here Now, There Then"
"Here Now, There Then" is a very mystic and hypnotizing album and it's full of headbanging guitar and bass riffs and effective hooks that will thrill any THE DEVILS BLOOD fans around this globe with tunes such as "Words On Paper", "Oweynagat" and "She-Goat". A more softer and progressive approach in "The Alpha" and "The Death Of Love" or the sinister and epic 10 minutes opening tune "Vantablack". "Golden Serpents" is one of the highlights, an powerful and great crafted tune with an amazing balance. DOOL bends their musical education to their own creation, searching for a true identity.
"Here Now, There Then" is about dreaming, ambition and will", says Ryanne van Dorst. "The album is about breaking boundaries and behavioral patterns while destroying stigmas. It is a mantra for whoever needs it and in any way one chooses to use it. It is the shadow lands between fantasy and reality. A fairy tale in a concrete background".
The album was released on February 17, 2017. Recorded by producer Pieter Kloos (THE DEVILS BLOOD, MOTORPSYCHO).
Sum: "Here Now, There Then", the sound of DOOL is a call to let oneself float freely and weather the storms of everyday life, taking flight into the wild unknown …all those who wander are DOOL.
Today's tune "Oweynagat" taken from "Here Now, There Then", enjoy!
