ninehertz

Only three months on from the early Christmas present of their last release, the end of year list gatecrashing Atavism, Teleost return again. This is a band on the move, with increased gig activity to boot, their move from York to Glasgow seemingly stoking the creative fires.

This self-titled EP highlights why they are held in such high regard, and furthermore, excitingly displays growth. Even their early demos were excellent, but there are clear signs of finesse and expansion within their trademark droned out doom. The vocal delivery in particular has shifted subtly and compliments their musical ethos in an even greater manner than ever.

The ten minutes of the first of three tracks, Navigator, are a fantastic description of why Teleost are so loved here, for any newcomer. It has a nice, gentle beginning that hypnotises you into a trance, faint vocals that sound almost choral, as much in the drone folk worlds of the likes of Smote as the heavier end they normally reside in. It crafts such a rich atmosphere in its restraint, so much so that when the heaviness arrives halfway through, as the pedals are kicked down to herald the monolithic, mountainous doom, that it remains in that heady state of prior.

Palanquin slips smartly into a Sleep trip, playing with the simple doom riff as the deep tone and light touch vocal chants contrast wonderfully. Standing Stone is centred around a slow churning revolving riff that almost collapses under its own weight, a track of the purest tone. The mesmeric state becomes almost cosmically psychedelic by its end; space rock, folk drone and thick slabs of doom married in bliss.

This is exactly the shade of doom for me. I’d be happy for them to stay on their path forever more, yet they're obviously not similarly content and are in fact getting better, as this shows growth as they further find their own niche and sit comfortable in this well of doom of their own. It makes for yet another wonderful record.