Out Now
Words by Matt Gabites
So the lads from L.A, stoner/doom/desert rock outfit The Lords of Altamont have rebranded themselves under the much doomier moniker of Into The Valley of Death and released their debut e.p Space Age.
Comprising 5 songs and 18 minutes, Space Age provides more than a glimpse into where they want their new project to go. And opening track Leeches tells us that wherever they are goin’, I.T.T.V.O.D are in no rush to get there. For fans of doom, it is a great introduction. Slow, moody and intent on holding the line until the final forty seconds.
Next up is Under the Ground. Best described as the kinda song that would be playing on Rage at 3 a.m after having (annoyingly) slept through the metal music clips, only to awaken to Kyuss, Beasts of Bourbon or Joy Division.
Far from being a bad song, it is a terrific example of stoner/doom rock, as is Strip. I just can’t shake the feeling that I’m living next door to a Rolling Stones fan who plays their records loudly but at half speed.
100 Feet Tall benefits from the restrained vocal approach complimenting a metronomic riff and drum beat before swaggering into a desert sunset on the back of a bluesy lead break.
Malice closes out the e.p with its most obvious nod to the godfathers of doom, Black Sabbath. And simply by holding its own with such comparisons should be reason enough to give these lads a listen.
Space Age may not be an album in a rush, but let’s hope Into the Valley of Death don’t procrastinate before giving us a full length release.
