I have been granted the task of feeding my ears to the Sounds of Seattle, Washington’s finest Snail. These chaps are a Stoner/Doom band with twenty years of experience. Here is my observation on their 4th and latest full album, fittingly named Feral.

 

From the get go, you can clearly hear the Doom thick in every strum at the strings of the guitar. The fuzziness exploding everywhere in the recording. Some thought-provoking riffs on show here, with melody unheard of in this genre. You can see their influences of Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd shining through here.

 

The album art is incredible. A huge Stag taking the pole-position of the picture with a Snail plodding across a Mushroom. The background are two colossal trees. Every colour you could think of on display here. For the Album Art alone it’s worth buying.

 

Recorded with Label Small Stone Records, the album is clearly not overproduced and still has elements of rawness resounding from it. Something which is needed in this type of genre.

Mark Johnson has a psychedelic roll to his voice. Clear similarities to Ghost frontman Papa Emeritus III. This becomes more apparent in the chorus of Smoke the Deathless. It’s almost a peaceful whisper above the dark trudge of Doom blasting the band are distributing. It does get lost in some verse areas where it is heavily laden with effects, but is made up for in every chorus with Johnson’s harmonious tones caressing you as you listen with a lashing of reverb and echo. Something I personally love to hear.

 

The lyrics are clear and catchy. One thing every lyricist aspires to. Derail having a great, very obvious chorus which will have it stuck in your head for days to come. Look out for that one!