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Pyramido - Salt review



Reviewer:
8.0

3 users:
7.67
Band: Pyramido
Album: Salt
Style: Doom metal, Stoner metal
Release date: April 10, 2011
A review by: Doc G.


01. Walking Blind
02. Left To Rot
03. Saltstoder
04. Onward
05. Hollow Words
06. Dr. Milton (Destroyer Of The Worlds)

This really comes at a strange time to review, I mean, it's summer, it's time for Billy Idol, Ramones, and maybe some Anthrax for good measure. Happy times - happy music, you know? Part of me wants to grade this a big ol' 0 based on how much of a bring-down this album is, the other half of myself is quite impressed by how effectively Salt will bring you down.

So it's doom, obviously. Doom of some of the grimiest, ugliest variety. Yes, it is very typical in all it's sludgy rawness, but what is the purpose of reinventing the wheel when you've nailed such a craft down perfectly? The live-sounding mix really does justice to the album, whether intentional or not, it's a sound that presents the music the way it should be. Normally, having drums so forward in the mix makes the whole thing sound either too overloaded, or too quiet. In Salt, the use of such prominent drum sounds pushes it to a great bombastic extreme. Then of course, there is the staples needed in this particular genre; slow grooving riffs, with an incredibly depressing, evil sounding lead stepping forward every now and then.

The pitfall? Well, here's where the whole "typical" sound starts to make this a difficult listen occasionally, it seems to be the main problem found in a lot of doom metal. When the riffs aren't at their climax of juiciness, not only is it hard to decipher the songs apart from one another, but it's difficult to decipher them from any number of other bands out there. For example, at many parts throughout Salt, I could have been easily convinced I was listening to Burning Witch or something. Luckily, Pyramido play such a gruesome sounding form of sludge-doom, there's little room for concern of who it may or may not sound like; good music is good music.





Written on 29.06.2011 by Former EIC. Now just a reviewer guy.


Comments

Comments: 9   Visited by: 110 users
29.06.2011 - 10:55
Too much sludge/doom about these says, IMO. Can't tell one band from the other. This is a good effort, mind you, and I would recommend it, although the shouty "singing" gives me a headache every time. Wake me up when it's over...
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30.06.2011 - 00:44
Milena
gloom cookie
Staff
Written by Merchant of Doom on 29.06.2011 at 10:55

Too much sludge/doom about these says, IMO. Can't tell one band from the other. This is a good effort, mind you, and I would recommend it, although the shouty "singing" gives me a headache every time. Wake me up when it's over...

I don't know is it because I'm still not into it, but I feel like every other new review on this site is doom.
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7.0 means the album is good
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30.06.2011 - 01:02
It's because you are still not into it... The only "proper" doom release (IMO) this week has been the magnificent Abstract Spirit... so, I wouldn't say it's every other review...
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05.07.2011 - 09:51
Milena
gloom cookie
Staff
Written by Merchant of Doom on 30.06.2011 at 01:02

It's because you are still not into it... The only "proper" doom release (IMO) this week has been the magnificent Abstract Spirit... so, I wouldn't say it's every other review...

Probably I tried Shape Of Despair a month ago, since they're, like, acclaimed (and also Finnish, which is good, I tend to like Finnish bands), but didn't like it one bit. Maybe due to my hormonal state at the time, but I prefer listening to something I can really connect to, and I can't really connect to slooow-glooom-you're-dooooomed. Is there anything that sounds very typical to the genre and yet kickass, so I can listen to it too and decide whether I'll go on or give up on it?
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7.0 means the album is good
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05.07.2011 - 11:22
Maybe you should try "traditional doom" bands, less doom and gloom and more "rockish" (hopefully I won't be shot down for this statement... )

good list here...

http://rateyourmusic.com/genre/Traditional%20Doom%20Metal/1

I won't recommend any because it's not really my cup of tea...
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06.07.2011 - 18:16
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Staff
Written by Milena on 05.07.2011 at 09:51

Is there anything that sounds very typical to the genre and yet kickass, so I can listen to it too and decide whether I'll go on or give up on it?

I don't know what's "kickass" for you but most of the sludge scene is pretty damn energetic for me specially bands like Eyehategod and Acid Bath. those bands are quite ugly though but damn worth the try (Acid Bath's debut is one of my all time favorites).

Looking at your favorite bands I would strongly suggest you Mar De Grises. Very dreamy and uplifting music even a bit proggy at times. You should give their second album a try, the song "Deep-Seeded Hope Avant-Garde" is the first song I listened and they became one of my favorite bands quite fast

And well, I also agree with Merchant of Doom: Traditional doom metal like Candlemass is cool too
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass

Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.

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06.07.2011 - 22:15
Milena
gloom cookie
Staff
Written by X-Ray Rod on 06.07.2011 at 18:16

Written by Milena on 05.07.2011 at 09:51

Is there anything that sounds very typical to the genre and yet kickass, so I can listen to it too and decide whether I'll go on or give up on it?

I don't know what's "kickass" for you but most of the sludge scene is pretty damn energetic for me specially bands like Eyehategod and Acid Bath. those bands are quite ugly though but damn worth the try (Acid Bath's debut is one of my all time favorites).

Looking at your favorite bands I would strongly suggest you Mar De Grises. Very dreamy and uplifting music even a bit proggy at times. You should give their second album a try, the song "Deep-Seeded Hope Avant-Garde" is the first song I listened and they became one of my favorite bands quite fast

And well, I also agree with Merchant of Doom: Traditional doom metal like Candlemass is cool too

Well thank you I started a topic on doom a while ago and got some good answers; and I've also read some reviews here to see what might fit me, especially reviews of stuff that got MS awards in recent years, but some stuff I've tried first (like Shape Of Despair and Draconian with that gothic touch) put me off. Also reading the lyrics puts me off. So I might just listen to other stuff I've collected and let this doom stuff sit for a while; I'm pretty young so I just might have to mature more or get bored with some of my old stuff to listen to it
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7.0 means the album is good
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06.07.2011 - 22:57
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Elite
@MoraWinterSoul good to hear Draconian is not to your liking
you could also try Officium Triste, Mournful Congregation, Loss (the US doom band), Cold Mourning
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Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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07.07.2011 - 00:19
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Staff
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 06.07.2011 at 22:57

@MoraWinterSoul good to hear Draconian is not to your liking
you could also try Officium Triste, Mournful Congregation, Loss (the US doom band), Cold Mourning

I knew youn were gonna post that...

Also, I dunno man, stuff like Mournful Congregation or funeral doom in general isn't something I would recommend for the new guys. Doom/death on the other hand like the peaceville triology seems more fitting.

Shit dude, we're totally spamming this review XD

Written by Milena on 06.07.2011 at 22:15

but some stuff I've tried first (like Shape Of Despair and Draconian with that gothic touch) put me off. Also reading the lyrics puts me off.

Well, I personally don't like Draconian and don't view them as doom tbh. Probably their debut but after that it's mostly gothic metal with doom influences, not the other way around. And Shape Of Despair... I really like them but I wouldn't recommend them to someone new to doom metal. They are quite easy to lsiten to when it comes to funeral doom so I would recommend it to those who already like some doom but want to get deeper into it, not to those who are completely new since they would fine it quite boring.

Also, I don't really care for their lyrics since their music is mostly instrumental anyway
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass

Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.

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