Gollum - The Core Review
by Mark Hensch
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Hearing The Core is the aural equivalent of drilling through the Earth's many layers. In much the same way our planet's crust consists of various rocks constituting one whole, so too does this record mix a plethora of genres into one distinct sound. Regardless of the starting point, however, the final destination is an unbridled passion at the center of it all.
The sophomore effort from Wilmington, North Carolina's Gollum, The Core is a versatile record effortlessly molding every sub-genre of heavy metal into one effortless sonic identity. In the same way one might glance too fast at Michelangelo's David and miss a detail, The Core rewards multiple listens with an intricate and unique take on the art of heaviness. Elements of death, black, doom, sludge, thrash and progressive metal all appear, crafting a style of metal familiar yet alien. Winding yet claustrophobic, it is the sound of a massive cave system collapsing inwards.
The moody opening ambience of "The Calm Before," first signals this trend, soon erupting into a whirlwind of time signature changes and angular riffs. The title track comes next, unleashing a thrash metal hook as sharp as a pickaxe and harmonics which sear eardrums like chunks of lit phosphorous.
In stark contrast stands "Ominous Winds," an ethereal number sporting ghostly chords ebbing in and out of focus. Beautiful yet eerie, "Winds" oscillates between a soft caress and a crushing avalanche. Capping it off is a wavering, Pink Floyd-worthy guitar climax, the likes of which is amongst the album's most haunting moments.
"Blacksmith (Summoning Wrath)" crafts a war-like brand of metal from the innovations of Mastodon, Meshuggah and Lamb of God, creating a modern killing machine of stunning viciousness. The guitars are choking and massive; conversely, their absence provokes the sensation of falling down an abandoned mineshaft into a terrifying void of nothingness. Working its way into a panicked frenzy, "Blacksmith" emerges as a clear contender for album highlight.
"Diggin,'" meanwhile, is a song which channels primal aggression into a tribal litany of violence, simplistic and repetitive. The guitars pound like migraines before floating away like specks in one's vision; though the tension they conjure is relentless, it shifts form again and again with ease.
"Amor Fati," for its part, is a soft yet psychedelic interlude which paves the way for the wild "Darkhouse." Careening wildly, "Darkhouse" exhibits the best of the band's attributes - massive but precise guitars, percussion as rhythmic as a heartbeat, spastic freakouts and vitriolic vocals so strong the spittle flies out of headphones.
"The Burden of Ubiquitous Scars" is next, slashing with oft-kilter guitar tones before calming down into a passage of free-flowing ambience. This interlude of relative tranquility does not last long, soon bursting forth with a blistering assault of blastbeats and blackened shrieks.
After this," Schadenfreude" turns heads with a few chilling piano keys before unleashing another rabid metal anthem with the flexibility of a writhing cobra. Between the soaring guitar solos, charging punk percussion and slamming guitars, this one has something for everyone.
The shadowy "Carver Bones" reveals the possibility of new musical territory, fusing the piercing leads of arena rock with pulverizing death riffs cloaked in a hazy sludge. It is also a real head trip, sounding wondrously organic despite the fact it is a meticulously-crafted piece of music.
The album's grand finale is "Omens," a surreal composition combining paranoid psychedelia with gothic melancholy. It drifts like fox fire, shimmering in the gloomy dusk around it. Though it lacks the bludgeoning brutality of other songs, "Omens" is still undeniably heavy, standing as a testament towards Gollum's versatility.
Featuring guest appearances from Lamb of God's Randy Blythe, Weedeater's Dave "Dixie" Collins and Hope & Suicide's Scott Angelacos, The Core is one of those best-kept secrets which will not remain hidden for long. Though for now Gollum remains mired in the heavy metal underground, music this ambitious and exquisite will rise to the surface sooner rather than later. Here's hoping The Core gets unearthed by many; in the meantime, chalk this up as one of my early contenders for sleeper album of 2009.
Tracklisting
The Calm Before
The Core
Ominous Winds
Blacksmith (Summoning Wrath)
Diggin'
Amor Fati
Darkhouse
The Burden of Ubiquitous Scars
Schadenfreude
Carver Bones
Omens
CD Info and Links
Gollum - The Core Rating:10.00 out of 10.00
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