### Hell / Thou: Resurrection bay

#### 22/01/14 || Dinu

Hell from Salem, Oregon has been active since 2006 and packs a killer bass-and-doom/stoner combo. Very reminiscent of 70s Sabbath with some very slow, mean and heavy doom tunes. M.S.W. is very good and the only reservations I have with him is that sometimes he is repetitive.

Thou are a five-man doom metal band from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and they are very heavy. Add some shrieking black metal vocals and you get a monster! they occasionally remind one of “Neurosis” although their style is distinct. The guitars sound incredible on almost all their albums but their music is brought down a notch due to the one-note vocals and their chord sequences aren’t very bold. They are very similar to what other doom bands have been doing since Black Sabbath and a little experimentation would add layers to what is an already kick-ass band.

“Resurrection bay” is a split that came out in 2012 and at a running time of 12 minutes packs in two staggering punches. Side A has “Sheol” by Hell, traditional doom metal fans will not be disappointed by this one. Heavy, slow, chugging riffs coupled with some distorted screams ripping throughout the song. Five minutes of ugly pile-driving moments and M.S.W. sketches a pitch-black soundscape that takes the listener to some very dark corners of the imagination. This is one track that had my attention throughout its total running time of five minutes.

Side B is where Thou pound out “Ordinary People”. This is a marvelous track and Thou do not fail to deliver. They bring out their heaviest and slowest riffs and the drumming adds layers and layers of menace. The thick and heavy grooves are nicely backed up by the vocals. This is a very cool track and is a must listen for all doom fans.

I cannot recommend this split enough. Beautiful work on the songs by both the bands and a great starting point for people who have not heard of either of them.

- Information
- Released: 28 April 2012
- Label: Gilead Media
- Website: HAT Bandcamp
- Band: Hell
- M.S.W.: instruments, vocals
- Band: Thou
- Bryan Funck: vocals
- Matt Thudium: guitars
- Andy Gibbs: guitars
- Mitch Wells: bass
- Josh Nee: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Sheol (Hell)
- 02. Ordinary People (Thou)