Review: Dan Maynard
We are about to see the release of Gold Coast veterans The Matadors’ first single in 12 years, Etched In Ash. The song sees them tread deeper into the doom genre, blending their old school hardcore roots and sludge tones into a more rounded out and huge sound that is as atmospheric as it is dirty and disgusting.
Etched In Ash begins clean, spacious, an open room sound of reverbed somewhat gravelly clean guitars. It’s not long before we are floored by the monstrous drums and bass that bind it all. The intro is not short, but nothing in doom is. This is a perfectly dragged out start that leads us to our first kick in where vocalist Daniel Godson appears, guttural, dangerous and straight up filthy.
We travel through the song with a range of ups and downs, broken down verses that keep the song at bay, followed by huge choruses and even a haunting guitar lead through the middle which nicely breaks the song into its third act.
On top of Etched In Ash, fans will be happy to hear a further two singles will follow soon. Not wanting to give too much away, I can tell you the three songs act as a journey, the first two tracks work hand in hand as a single track, the third entering as its own but as much a third piece in the storytelling as the first two songs.
The Matador is back, they’re entering a new phase as a band and are clearly ready to show the world. This is the year of The Matador, be prepared.
Etched in Ash drops on Bandcamp Feb 27
https://thematador1.bandcamp.com/
