GOATESS Blood and Wine [CD]

Goatess summon the frenzy and religious ecstasy of a Bacchus cult with their third, and highly anticipated new album Blood and Wine. Riffs of biblical, Cecil B. DeMille magnitude, part the Red Sea and chariot their way across the dunes like a relentless raging Roman legion. Expert songwriting by modern veterans of the scene,  Sweden’s Goatess take the traditional doom metal foundations of St Vitus, Trouble and early Cathedral out to the desert and mould it into a set of arid, hypnotic stoner grooves. Bringing to mind modern classics of desert rock like the catchier moments of Kyuss’s Sky Valley and Corrosion Of Conformity’s Blind album, Blood and Wine is a thirst quenching refreshment in a parched dust bowl. The revitalised lineup of Kenta Karlbom (drums) and Niklas Jones (guitar) with new initiates Karl Buhre (vocals) and Samuel Cornelsen (bass) have struck a mother lode of gold with their rich doom pedigree and a new found life-blood in their chemistry.  Having already tread the hallowed boards of sonic temples all over Europe several times, Blood and Wine will see the Goatess cult of doom enthusiasts drawn in anew and the Bacchanalia cult swelling in their hooded numbers.

9 doses of intoxicating mesmerism that showcase seasoned and masterful command of doom-craft, this album marks Goatess finding a stride in their cloven hooves. Captivating and subtly epic songs steamroll a slow descent into the underworld deserts of your mind, providing a suitable companion to nights of group debauchery or solo excursions to the soul’s outer limits. Giving in to the Bacchanalia at the heart of this record induces a mythical orgy of sonic Sabbathian riff-worship that’s impossible to deny. Once you pop the cork on this barrel-fermented vintage cask, you will enjoy and savour every heavy gulp until the very last drop.