Nomad - The House Is Dead [EP] [2014]

Stomping on to the Doom scene with their EP are Manchesters down-tuned deliverers of despair, Nomad. Coming together late 2011, the 4-piece unleashed their 'The House Is Dead' earlier this year on the When Planets Collide label. Relentlessly heavy from the off, the EP has certainly put them in good standing among the Manchester scene.

Opening track 'Slaves To Mourning' kicks off proceedings in the expectedly heavy fashion. The slow and thick groove instilling the overall despairing overtones of the track, piloting it forward with the incredible grit of vocalist Rev. Drian Nash's voice. The track has use of some fairly upbeat riffs appearing after the chorus that are well developed to progressively deepen and give contrast to the tracks swings in mood throughout. Often intensifying in synch with the vocals, to give a good sense of sound diversity in the track.

The EP has the despair side of Doom as an overriding theme throughout, with most songs building to the heavy end of the scale. It is nice to hear that melody and lead guitar work is used as a way of diversifying the songs and adding new dynamics through the EP developing.

Nomad certainly takes and executes the key features of the Doom genre well, in particular keeping a groove to the heaviness, but it feels like their is room for implementation of other ideas in some tracks. Maybe trying to work in some softer sections in the vain of bands such as Acid Bath to help give the haviness more of a punchy arrival wouldn't be such a bad idea to try. And spreading the tempo for these sections should certainly help achive that.

Overall the EP is a stellar performance by the band. Well executed throughout to pervey that true despair and dread that has become it's defining accolade since the genres development after early Sabbath, it certainly feels like well written Doom Metal. Well recomended to any fans of the genre.

The EP is available on When Planets Collide's BandCamp now on a name your price basis (be nice and give them something). And cassetes with sticker packs are also available for a reasonable £4.95, just for you old school listeners out there. CD's are currently out of stock unfortunately. To buy the EP just visit the links at the bottom of the page.

Nomad - The House Is Dead [EP] [2014]

Nomad is:
Lewis Atkinson - Guitar
Hayley McIntyre - Drums
Rev. Drian Nash - Vocals
John C - Bass

Find the band on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/Nomaddoom
The House Is Dead EP: http://whenplanetscollide.bandcamp.com/album/the-house-is-dead
Napalm Promotions on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NapalmPromotions