ninehertz

As part of the “job” writing for ninehertz, I scour bandcamp tags for new releases, relishing especially in demos from previously unheard-of bands from anywhere across the globe. This is where you find the next exciting thing, the new waves – but also, where production hasn’t softened the edges of doom or sludge which rely upon and thrive within the rough n scuzzy, fuzzy edges.

Which is where we find Matriark, from Norway, a three-piece self-describing as “female supremacy stoner doom”. They remind me a lot in this way of Birmingham’s Meatdripper and, whilst this only two-track debut, holds a similar level of promise.

French prima opens and has such a satisfying tone that gets into your veins. There’s an interesting vocal delivery that gives it a ghostly, almost gothic tinge; simple doom but highly effective. She’s a few has a bit of stoner pace and groove injected but within a Witchcult Today adjacent guitar sound. The vocals here have something of L7 in them. It’s cool all round, and the nice stoner-fied riff in its second half is undeniably irresistible.

It is for releases like this that make the hours of trawling through crappy demos all worth it – by no means the finished article, but a new, young and fresh voice within doom. Matriark are ones to keep an eye on.