In Memorium

RIP: Paul Van Linden of Grimpen Mire

Less than 24 hours ago, Birmingham, UK doom-sludge act GRIMPEN MIRE posted this tragic news:

It is with an exceptionally heavy heart that I have to type this, but Paul lost his life last night. Obviously we are all devastated and our thoughts are with his family. RIP Paul, our life long brother and best friend.

Paul was a key creative force behind Grimpen Mire, serving as the vocalist and bassist for the 8-year old trio, who described their sound as “future noise.”

On behalf of myself and all the Doomed & Stoned contributors, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family and the band during this time of unspeakable loss.

We pay tribute by calling attention to some of the band’s best work, the 2012 album ‘A Plague Upon Your Houses,’ which the band really poured their hearts into and has stood well the test of time. Through the music, Paul still speaks.

Give ear….

By Melissa Marie

About a year into their existence, Morass of Molasses now have a four-track EP with “the kind of lumbering, swampy riffs that induce involuntary head-nodding and deep, dark groove appreciation” (an apt description from the band itself). For me, this was a very highly anticipated release from one of the most promising of the up-and-coming UK stoned sludge bands. The Reading trio have created pure sonic art by carefully mixing stoner rock riff worship with copious amounts of sticky sludge, the kind you’d expect of a band called Morass of Molasses.

Those that keep a close eye on all that Doomed & Stoned does should have Morass of Molasses on their personal radar, especially after our interview with Bones, Chris and Phil a few months back (it’s fascinating, you really should give it a look). If you’re late to the show, no worries! Today, I’m going to give you the run-down on their new EP, So Flows Our Fate, the culmination of a year’s hard work. Or, in the band’s own words, “A forging of heavy, swampy blues and delicate haunting melodies.”

Morass of Molasses may be new, but already they’re showing the potential of a top-tier band. So Flows Our Fate starts with “Rotten Teeth,” which is an immediate attention-getter. It begins with some guitar fiddlings reminiscent of a fuzzy Truckfighters vibe. “Rotten Teeth” will go from high energy to slowed-down parts with whispered vocals, to heavy, in-your-fucking-face doom, then back to quiet before returning to the original motif that began the song. Some parts are light and misty, while others make you wanna let your hair down and headbang. “Rotten Teeth” is rather unpredictable, which is something I find refreshing in a doom-sludge scene that’s often oversaturated with sameness.

The following track, “Ashtabula,” carries many of the same stylistic distinctives of the previous song, which you’ll hear throughout the EP. The most noticeable quality of “Ashtabula” is the how groovy it is. Like the previous track, this one will incite a physical response without the listener even realizing it. One of the unexpected characteristics to “Ashtabula” is the hazy undercurrent. You’ll experience ambient moments mixed in with the most addictive groove. While some may be bored with generous amounts of atmosphere, it’s not overwhelming and manages to stays interesting with Chris belting out a massive percussive storm. Whether Bones is whispering or growling, he is successful in making it melodious. While this is the shortest song on the record, I would argue that it is the most memorable.

Let’s slow things down for the next track, “Fear To Tread.” Welcome back to pounding drums and distinct riffing. Morass of Molasses achieve a lot of tension in this song and it grows all the more sinister, just as the title suggests. “Fear To Tread” transitions us right into “Bear River,” the last track. This is my favorite track for a number of reasons. Number one? Fuzzy riffs, of course! While “Bear River” does have its mellow moments (including a rather haunting intro), I love this song because it’s boisterously noisy. While Morass of Molasses aren’t trying to outdo anyone in terms of volume, they amp it all the way up for the record closer. Pay extra attention to what happens about five minutes in, when the band speeds things up and throw a fun guitar solo into the mix. What a great way to end their debut EP!

So Flows our Fate very well may be the beginning of something wonderful for Morass of Molasses. These three guys have tinkered and fine-tuned the catchy stoner rock we all love by adding in evocative melodies, distinguished statements, and swampy sludge metal. They’ve wasted no time in hitting the road, spending most of April in back-to-back performances to get audiences better acquainted with them.

The thing I respect most about Morass of Molasses is that they are simply endeavoring to be who they are. They’re not trying to have the fuzziest tone or become the planet’s heaviest band. They write songs from the heart, deriving inspiration from the strange anomalies of history. While they are not a prog band, I would love to see Morass of Molasses tread further into progressive territory. I am of the opinion that they could one day be in the same league as Elder. At just over half-an-hour, this EP is a fun as hell for the listener, whether you’re a fuzz junkie, a sludge addict, or just a casual listener looking for something different.