Highgate - S/T

First up, I don't have the artwork available at the moment so sorry about that and this album came out in 2008, I don't why or how I missed this one so sorry again but here is a much overdue review of one of the most depressing, bleak and inaccessible albums ever recorded. This album contains just one untitled 50 + minute piece of Blackened Doom. Whenever a band attempts something like this, you run the risk of producing something really mind-numbing boring or something really mind-blowing brilliant. Remember when Sleep recorded Jerusalem, the record was panned by critics and even some fans but look at it these days. The record is seen a one of the most important Doom albums ever recorded, these type of recordings take time to grow on you and Highgate's S/T album is no exception. The music on this album is a sick, bleak nasty piece of Blackened Sludge Droning Doom in the style of Burning Witch,Grief, Noothgrush, Winter, Wreck of the Hesperus, and Corrupted to name a few bands but Highgate maybe might be taking it a step further down the path of pure misery. This is the kind of record that will either have you on the edge of your seat with the crippling tension or leave you searching for the nearest razor blade. I will admit you have to be in the mood for this stuff and a great degree of patience wont go astray either. It's slow and extremely pounding, and while most people would likely be bored witless by such a long, fearsome doom song, there's enough variety here to keep most doom fans interested, because just as the song starts to drag they throw in some few mid paced riffs here to keep it interesting. While this sticks to the mostly Funeral Ambient Doom sound, they do occasionally break into more traditional Doom riffing. There is a section around the 25 minute mark that could be off any Reverend Bizarre album and at around 40 minute point, there is one riff that is right up there with any Traditional Doom band. The mood however stays as tormenting as possible, its unsettling and with vocals that sound a lot like Khanate's singer. There is not a huge amount of lyrics though as the band seems to focus on producing bleak and sometimes ambient sounds while retaining a evil atmosphere. If you are looking for something catchy or something you can nod your head to, you better stay away from this one but if you are of the extreme Doom persuasion, then you will love this. The only downside is the production which seems to be demo quality but still its good demo quality. This is an album that's been done pretty well in an genre that is a hard one to pull off successfully, and Highgate have done it and are to be commended for that. Not recommended for the average Metal Head perhaps but if you have a lot of patience then you'll probably enjoy this album a great deal. 8/10

www.myspace.com/therealhighgate