SHRINEBUILDER — Shrinebuilder (review)

SHRINEBUILDER — Shrinebuilder album cover Album · 2009 · Stoner Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Time Signature
Heavy for all to hear...

Genre: sludgy stoned doom metal

I have always had a problem with the term "stoner doom", wondering how something can be both stoned and doom-ladden. Having heard Pentagram's releases, I have started to appreciate this term, theough, and this release by Shrinebuilder has proved to be yet a lesson in the possibility of "stoner doom".

The stylistic anchor is undoubtedly doom metal with its heavy beats, slow tempos and overall desperate and oppressive atmosphere. But this is accompanied by a sludgy sound and dark and heavy blues-based patterns and solos as well as some dynamic fill-in rich drumming akin to that of the "hippie" drummers of the heavy psychedelic rock acts of the 70s.

Some of the riffage is incredibly heavy such as much of the riffage of "Solar Benediction", the crushing main riff of "Pyramid of the Moon" and the riff in the bridge of "The Science of Anger", while other riffage is more sludgy and blues-based. a track like "Blind for All to See" has and incredibly stoned feel to it, and all the tracks are darkly groovy.

This release should, with its dark and heavy psychedelia, appeal to fans of early Sabbath, Pentagram and St. Vitus, and, while the genre is a very different one, those who appreciat ethe dark psychedelia of the first two Psychotic Waltz releases might also like this.
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The Angry Scotsman wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Granted, my friend who showed me this band is a major stoner and would have this playing while he was getting baked...but I still enjoyed the hell out of it when it was playing!
I like the post influences mixed with good ol doom metal, really awesome and chill album.
Coffin Joe wrote:
more than 2 years ago
rope & dagger is mandetory :-D
UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I´ll be a zealot then :-)
Coffin Joe wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Amen brother! Your review made me pull out the record again, and realizing (once again) how great a record this is. I will get a lot of angry zealots after me, but I think Shrinebuilder is a better band than Neurosis. I love Neurosis, but Shrinebuilder is way more diverse, and have created an album that really draws you in.
Time Signature wrote:
more than 2 years ago
With music like this, you don't have to smoke pot to get stoned.... the music itself is of such a quality that it can put you in a sort of state of trance.
Coffin Joe wrote:
more than 2 years ago
It's a masterpiece! Well at least for a stonerhead (ok. that came out wrong) like myself
The Angry Scotsman wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Love this album
UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I like this one too. Good description of the music.
Coffin Joe wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I see, you share the love. One of my favorite records!

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