Bison B.C.
Dark Ages

Canada’s Bison B.C. return with their second full-length for Metal Blade Records and, after a few spins, the band members seem to have outdone themselves. This record carries everything up a notch… the Doomy atmospheres, the stomping Stoner grooves, the intricate arrangements and the impressive musicianship. There is no holding back, no simplifying, no softening up under the guise of “broadening their fanbase”. These guys do what they do and you either like it or you don’t.

“Two-Day Booze” just comes in ripping the doors off with it’s harmonized guitar intro before diving into a beastly groove… loads of aggression in this one. “Take The Next Exit” shows a little thrash metal influence with it’s neck-snapping opening riff before the Pink-ish verse kicks in. In fact, a lot of the vocals have a very Punk-like vibe about them, but run from screaming growls to angsty yelling. The 8-minute-plus opening track “Stressed Elephant” is simply superb. Some of the parts of this songs remind me of some of the more modern, post-metal bands like Isis or Irepress… that sonic wall guitar tone and the suffocating riffs… but with a tad more groove about it. “Fear Cave” offers more weighty, doom-laden madness with thrashy, head-banging moments thrown in for good measure.

All in all, I’d say Dark Ages is a more than worthy follow up to Quiet Earth. I love it and will find myself spinning it often, no doubt. Seek it out… it will be worth whatever it takes for you to own it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to punish myself incessantly for missing their show w/ High On Fire a couple weeks ago.

[Visit the band's website]
Written by Shawn Pelata
April 28th, 2010

Comments

  1. Commented by: Coles

    just saw them last weekend in Costa Mesa. For guys who look like stoners, they don’t mess around live. Really tight set and everything was on mark. too bad people weren’t getting into it.


  2. Commented by: Brandon Reinhart

    I’m going to one-up these bands with my own band titled “PLEISTOCENE BESTIARY”


Leave a Reply

Privacy notice: When you submit a comment, your creditentials, message and IP address will be logged. A cookie will also be created on your browser with your chosen name and email, so that you do not need to type them again to post a new comment. All post and details will also go through an automatic spam check via Akismet's servers and need to be manually approved (so don't wonder about the delay). We purge our logs from your meta-data at frequent intervals.

  • Nasty Savage - Jeopardy Room
  • The Mist From The Mountains - Portal - The Gathering of Storms
  • Massacre - Necrolution
  • Abramelin - Sins of the Father
  • Arkona - Stella Pandora
  • Infern - Turn of the Tide
  • Obsidian Mantra - As We All Will
  • Theurgy - Emanations of Unconscious Luminescence
  • Krilloan - Return of the Heralds
  • Esoctrilihum - Döth-Derniàlh
  • Undeath - More Insane
  • Mork - Syv
  • Wind Rose - Trollslayer
  • Vomit Forth - Terrified Of god
  • Ripped to Shreds - Sanshi