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EYE OF DOOM
The Sapient

Majestic Mountain (2022)
Rating: 7/10

I’ve sat through this debut opus for 47 minutes and was surprised as to how much I enjoyed it as I’m not normally a fan of fuzz-driven stoner metal unless of course it’s dripping with occult imagery. This Vancouver, British Columbia-based trio does bring those horror elements although they tend to get swept up in the layers of fuzz and fluff as big, thick riffs roll off the bat as waves of sinister drudgery. Naturally there’s a Black Sabbath element alongside the usual Pentagram and the likes, but this time there’s a fusion with spaced-out nuances.

‘Eye Of Doom Part I’ is at times arduous but it is what it is, a sonic exploration into the cosmic reaches of the 70s interspersed with archetype stoner oozing whereby the vocals tend to take a backseat as they attempt to contend with the fat, rolling riffs and that clunky bass. ‘Dead Void’ shifts like a river of syrup twinkling under the stars, while ‘Return To Descension’ has that Sabbath vibe again, more so in the mournful vocals, and there’s some nice distorted bass work on offer here too.

As the album unravels it provides enough variety so that the listener doesn’t become bored, or too stoned by its behemoth coils. The title track brings some nice dynamics without ever sacrificing the thick weightiness, and ‘Eye Of Doom Part II’ displays subtlety before another dense riff rolls in like a kaleidoscopic steamroller.

The space rock vibes interest me as do the haunting vocal wisps on that closing track. However, too much of this stuff just weighs down my lungs and after seeing so many friends succumb to the stench of weed, The Sapient isn’t quite the bewitching or menacing opus I’d hoped for but it does remain a pleasing trip.

Neil Arnold

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