Demo Double Dose - Oceanlord & Heave
Amid the mountain of excellent new June releases, two demos from different corners of the heavy spectrum stood out as promising as any established band's EP. Hailing from Melbourne, Australia is the psychedelically doomed Oceanlord, and Albuquerque, New Mexico spat forth the sludge onslaught that is Heave.
Oceanlord's two track demo shows a band with range, opening with the somber, melodic "Come Home" and ending with the crunching groove of "Isle of the Dead". "Come Home" is a patient, hypnotizing number, beginning with an eerie, echoing intro that winds its way under ethereal vocals. A rumbling low end eventually creeps in, bringing with it waves of distortion. Follow up "Isle of the Dead" shifts into a different heavy gear, laying down an irresistible rolling groove with crunch and a dark, gothic flair. What sounds to be a tambourine is the well-placed cherry on top.
Heave's demo is another beast altogether, two cuts of doomed sludge aptly dubbed "swamprock". First track "Foundational Descent" is an avalanche of thick, buzzing distortion, hammering out a pulsing riff atop drumming of an intensity that's audible in every swing of a stick. Evil, throat tearing vocals amplify the caustic assault, which shows no signs of relenting as Heave move to the second track. "Defiant" wields a straight ahead, stomping chug that feels physically unstoppable. A soaring solo makes an appearance as well, tying in well with the doomier riffs throughout the cut.
Covering very different aspects of the heavy underground, Oceanlord and Heave's demos showcase two bands with loads of potential. With already well-honed sounds and exciting takes on their genres, there's no question they're ones to keep a close eye on.
(Written by Shasta Beast)