Old Man Gloom: The Ape of God

A profound and harrowing sonic experience has the ability to breakdown every barrier you have within you; it undoes all preconceived notions of what is possible to do musically. It also brings into your awareness new ways of expressing emotions and the complications they bring. Heavy music, specifically, is one of the more potent purveyors of this phenomenon, as its raw, primal qualities loosen restrictions and promise honest, cathartic releases.



The Ape of God record from Old Man Gloom deeply resonates with this experience: the album is a fusion of intrepid riffs; sharp corners; mountains, emotive refrains; and a self-aware, self-actualized poise that refines the record.

Formed in the late 90s in Santa Fe, New Mexico by ISIS’ Aaron Turner and drummer Santos Montano, Old Man Gloom released their debut Meditations in B record, which proved a powerful fusion of noise and Doom that shook the foundation of heavy music. Nate Newton (Converge and Doomriders), and Caleb Scofield (Cave In) soon joined; Luke Scarola joined later on electronics.

The band then released their Seminar I and Seminar II records; their Christmas album was released in 2004, and their critically-acclaimed NO record was cut eight years later. Each record helped dignify Old Man Gloom as one of the more daring, interesting experimental bands in heavy music.

Now, Old Man Gloom’s Ape of God record has taken the foundations laid on each previous release and managed to outdo previous efforts, as the tracks on the new album showcase undeniable refinement, as they are honed in on structure and texture, as well as variation with an underlining consistency.

The tracks on Ape of God are framed by the band’s signature fuzz and hum—the noise and audio fray that provide dissonance and enhances their primal-scream therapy-like foray into the formlessness of emotions and challenging experiences.

Ape of God opens with “Fist of Fury,” a declaration of noise rock and Sludgecore that cuts through with unapologetic feedback, audio sears, and reverb. Tone lords will appreciate Turner and Newton’s guitars, as they stridently resound every riff on tracks like “The Lash” and “Predators” with a confidence perhaps only matched by Greg Anderson. Moreover, Turner’s baritone, open-throat calls hinge the tunes on the frequency of primitive brutality; Doom-like qualities of tracks like “Shoulder Meat” pummel in absolution, where the resonant power rattles every wall of sound.

Lumbering and internalized, mammoth and dramatic, Ape of God pieces together myriad movement and emotionality without losing the heat and push of the band’s heaviest qualities, and rough-cut, relentless authenticity.

Ape of God was recorded, engineered and mixed by Kurt Ballou of Converge; mastering was done by Brad Boatright of Audiosiege. The record will be released via CD / Digital formats through Profound Lore Records and on 2xLP via SIGE.

You can pick up a copy of Ape of God via Profound Lore Records at www.ProfoundLoreRecods.com; also be sure to visit the Old Man Gloom official Website at www.OldManGloom.com, as well as their Facebook.com page at www.Facebook.com/OldManGloom.



 
 

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Lindsay OConnor     May 27, 2017