Robedoor - Rancor Keeper [Release The Bats - 2008]The cover picture of Rancor keeper is of a humanoid/ octopus headed gowned figure appearing from out of a cave mouths & it fits the musical vibe found inside perfectly. With it’s a mix of primal noise/ sludge guitar music, ritual percussion,blacked chants & bleak unfolds- like hymns to blacked underworlds. To build the albums impressive, suffocating and eerier walls of sound the pair of Alex & Britt utilize as well as the clearly heard thundering/ muffled guitar tones, keyboard, cello, drums, Voices and cymbal. All the four tracks on offer conjure up the feeling of been lost or trapped in vast underground crypts, or watching the unfolding of a pitch black ritual carried out in dank caves. It somehow mangers to be both threatening and eerier yet at the same time very soothing and lulling as it literal washers over you with it’s sludgy & muffled tones- seemlying draining all the energy and hope from your body so you slouch in a half conscience state. There are sight side-steps into more harmonic touches, but in time the pair smears and smudge there light & melodies, like dank blackness putting out a lone candle flame. A must for fans of airless and hypnotic guitar music this is primed for heavy near slumber states, comedowns and mourning afters. It's like pouring thick black treacle slowly into your ears submerging the world around you- so all that matters is the music dragging path Roger Batty
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