Search - Flatlands :: Vermuyden

ENGLISH IMPORT - "Released in 2006, Flatlands Vermuyden could easily fit within the sonic margins situated by genre stalwarts ISIS or Neurosis. At the same time, this bass-heavy meandering 6-track EP takes on a definitely rawer edge in execution and production than its predecessors. Overall, this fledgling UK band does well to attract diverse audiences supplementary to the average post-rock/doom-sludge crowd that seems all too frequent today. If given the proper prologue, it would not be stretching to foreshadow great things in this band s future. The first minute and a half provides the gloomy backdrop to which Flatlands so proficiently sets forth across the rest of Vermuyden. The band does an excellent job meshing rich, heavy bass with layered guitars and an obscure drumming array to create a constantly progressing animal. Indeed, the band has done their homework as the songs on Vermuyden ebb and flow as if alive--surging instances of sonic mass intertwine with moments of atmospheric subtlety to create their own unique sound. Each song slowly evolves to include both the harsh and the melodic to create a combination like few other bands. Overall, it s apparent that the band strives to break away from the tired heavy segment followed by a melodic segment formula, but instead do a stand-up job of blending both elements competently while slowly building momentum throughout the span of the (respective) song. The vocals are consistently abrasive (maybe too harsh in places), but are heard in relatively small doses. The drumming is not entirely pronounced, but has a cadence style theme in multiple places that fits well. In time, Flatlands could easily develop into a band with a style that stands out from the weary masses striving to do something different." - Sonic Frontiers