### Slomatics: Estron

#### 17/02/14 || Dinu

Slomatics are a heavy metal band from Belfast. They have released three full-length albums, three split CDs, a split 12” , a 7” and a Cassette. “Estron” is the fourth album from the group. They have a very derivative sound and are heavily inspired by bands like Electric Wizard, and Windhand in the riffs department. Echoes of Hawkwind are present especially when it comes to vocals. At times I am tempted to classify them as post-metal but what with so many unique sounds clustered in that closet, it is better to treat Slomatics as a heavy-metal band.

“Troglorite” opens this album with the trademark colossal riffs and heavy drumming. The pounding sounds more polished compared to the earlier Slomatics albums though. The vocals are more clear and then we slide into “Tunnel dragger”, which is a staple heavy metal number. Lots of fat riffs, weird spacey sounds, quiet and menacing drums and the song gets swallowed into some obscure blackhole of the universe before “Futurian” comes out. The opening minutes of “Futurian” are a shameless rip-off of “Winter Sun” from the “Soma” album by Windhand. This was a bit of a downer for me as I expected more original stuff from Slomatics.

“Lost Punisher” has a fantastic crackling buzz to it coupled with some really cool cymbals clashing in the background. “And yet it moves” is more generic stuff. Not much variety in here but at least its one of the few good original tracks off the album. “Red dawn” is the penultimate track and its quite slow compared to the preceding numbers. It has some really good doom moments when the riffs slow down and the drumming occupies more space and the final track “ The carpenter” , while not being a stand-out track nevertheless manages to rattle your skull-cage with its thunderous drumming and heavy bass rumbles.

Excellent production quality. A-grade polish and the producers have really done their job on this one. The album is better than the earlier ones and for fans of Slomatics, this will not be a disappointment. 2014 has so far been a good year for metal music.

- Information
- Released: 2014
- Label: Head of Crom/Burning World
- Website: Slomatics Bandcamp
- Band
- David: guitars
- Chris: guitars
- Marty: traps, vocals, cowbells

- Tracklist
- 01. Troglorite
- 02. Tunnel dragger
- 03. Futurian
- 04. Lost punisher
- 05. And yet it moves
- 06. Red dawn
- 07. The carpenter