By Tim Bolitho-Jones
Even by stoner metal standards, the latest album by Morass Of Molasses is a laidback affair. Sure, over the course of the 39 minutes that make up ‘The Ties That Bind,’ there’s plenty of hard riffage and fuzzed up anthems to enjoy. But there’s also a surprisingly large amount of tripped out, melodic sprawls. Fortunately, Morass Of Molasses are capable enough to manage both the brutal and the pleasant equally well.
Once the introduction is out the way, the first two tracks show off their metallic side. ‘Woe Betide’ and ‘Death To All’ are pulverising slabs of sandstone that draw from the same well as Clutch and Down. They have a few quieter moments but the emphasis is firmly on distorted power chords, bluesy rhythms and great big beards, drenched in real ale.
As the last few seconds of ‘Death To All’ segue into ‘Estranger’ though, the mood takes a significant shift. Here, Morass Of Molasses plunge right back in time to the early days of blues and perform a slow, blissed out number where the screaming fury of the first two songs only make sporadic appearances. It’s akin to being beamed out of an Electric Wizard gig and into a Mississippi bar where nobody gives a shit about the smoking ban. It’s atmospheric and strangely enthralling, but this is not a brief deviation by any means. For the next two songs, the dreamlike ‘Legend Of Five Sons’ and instrumental ‘As Leaves Fall,’ Morass Of Molasses stay firmly in the realm of the hypnotic.
Just as you’re starting to wonder if the rest of ‘The Ties That Bind’ will amble by in the same lazy haze though, ‘Persona Non Grata’ shows up. It immediately makes an impact by showing off the manliest guitar riff of the year and seals its reputation by including the runner-up as well. This one frankly, is Metal As Fuck and for seven whole minutes it’s like having an Apatosaurus fall on your head.
‘In Our Sacred Skin’ is pure sonic power and for a moment, it feels like Morass Of Molasses are going to end the record with a barrage of grimace-and-nodding guitar work, but nope, they shift gears again. ‘The Deepest Roots’ is another diluted-pupils meander through gardens of bliss, ending with a gradual build up towards…well, nothing. It feels like it’s going to erupt into one almighty explosion of noise, but instead ‘The Ties That Bind’ simply drifts off into the void.
It’s a fitting end to an album that both praises the amp and can’t be bothered to turn it on. ‘The Ties That Bind’ could do with an extra song or two as its all over too quickly, but for a distinctive slice of stoner, you could do a whole lot worse. They won’t be challenging the heavier end of the spectrum any time soon, but if you’re after the perfect accompaniment to lazing round the allotment with a crate of cider, it’s time to pull up a chair. Ours is a Thatcher’s Gold please lads.
- ‘The Ties That Bind’ is released on 7 June. You can get your copy HERE.
- Morass Of Molasses host their album release show the same night (Friday 7 June) at Facebar in Reading, with support from Trevor’s Head, Alternative Carpark and BIGG.
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