Black Tamanous
We were recently put onto the latest album, Tacoma, from Swansea based Black Tamanous, to see what we thought of things. Described in their bio as ‘a four piece relentless, noise making machine driven by all things heavy’, the band draw influence from the likes of Carcass, Machine Head, Pantera and Lamb Of God to produce their own barrage of riffs and groove laden thrash. Based on all of this information, I was looking forward to checking things out for myself, just to see what was going on!
Tacoma Part 1: From Earth sets the wheels in motion, immediately throwing us into a horror fuelled pit of devastation using sound effects to set the mood, and suggesting that what we’re in for is going to be one heavy assed ride. You can’t help but feel that the sound of someone being locked into a trunk of a car is designed to be the listener, saying we’ve gone too far to turn back and that we won’t rest until he’s dead. It’s surprising then that the opening musical moments are more melodic than heavy, harking towards Pantera in some was with the bass fuelled guitar work and sense of darkness which flows through the track. Effectively introducing us to the band through this track, it’s a dark but melodic opening to things, which holds a sting in the tail – an almighty smash in the face from some serious roaring and guitar work – heavy it is, yet full of melodic moments which shouldn’t work – but do.
Awakening shows off the true colours of the band, immediately slowing down the pace to a low tuned roar of guitar work and pounding drumlines. Powerful doesn’t seem to do the sound justice, as what we’re presented with is beyond powerful – it’s an almighty onslaught of distorted riffs, powerful drums and bass heavy rhythms. Soon picking up the pace once again, this is a track which is sure to find its true power on the live scene, the sort of thing which is going to unleash merry hell on an unsuspecting venue and get pits the likes of which have never been seen moving. Decapitated sounds like it’s going to be heavy purely based on the name, and sure enough as it grows, there’s a real sense that this is going to be a stand out track. The sludgy bass which gets things going continues the dark idea of the record, before launching us head first into a slow but incredibly heavy melee of guitar work and roars. To me, this is what metal should sound like, it’s got the power you’re looking for and the feeling that this is going to lift any bad mood you might have been in before you heard this. Sludgy, powerful and downright distorted from start to finish, this is heavy assed metal done well, and the sort of thing which is going to get heads banging from everyone in ear shot.
Blood, Bone and Bile once again opens with a sound bite of vocals before launching us back into the bands distorted pit of power, moving away from the fast finish of the previous track and instead throwing down into a mid tempo style track which will leave you dumbfounded at the sheer amount of power they seem to have harnessed into it. Rolling drums combine with roaring vocal lines and powerful guitar work, the whole mix forming into something which stands out as a serious high point on the album, the sort of track which is going to work seriously well on the live scene, and the sort of thing you won’t forget in a hurry! The Red Tree and Down To The Bones continue the distorted journey, each track presenting us with a hammering onslaught of elements, but it’s when Tacoma Part 2: In Shadow comes about that we’re returned to the opening moments of the album once again. Not for children, the horror sound effect which gets things going makes sure we’re not having doubts about things and tells us to get back in there to finish the job. Once again showing off a more melodic (yet dark) side of the band, the contrast here is quite stunning, really sitting you back so you can take it all in, showing the band understand their sound and aren’t simply hammering out a load of distortion. Leading us into A Confrontation we’re soon returned to that distorted approach, this time throwing down with a groove laden track designed to get you moving. Fast paced but rolling throughout, this is circle pit territory, and it’s looking damned good. Standing out as another serious high point on the record, this is a track to make sure you check out, simply to bear witness to what a band can do when they set their mind to it.
Skullfucked continues the distorted approach and once again throws down with an unrelenting track designed to unleash an almighty power to their audience. Powerful, fast and somehow still incorporating a sense of melody into things, this stand out track manages to sound even heavier and more powerful, simply based on the contrasting drumming which is adopted throughout – another one to check out. The Death Rattle Of Multiple Miggs and Lost both continue this approach, but to me, it’s when Interfector comes about that another serious high is achieved on the record. Rolling double bass powers the track onwards and combines with distorted riffs, forming into a sludgy mix akin to old school Sepultura in someways, but showing that the band have a serious understanding of their music and what they’re doing. This track is one which I have to see on the live scene as if they can pull this power off on the live front, then I think we’re going to be hearing a lot more from these guys in the very near future.
Closing with Tacoma Part 3: To Ashes the album goes full circle, finishing as it began with more of those samples, finishing what was started at the beginning of the album and leaving you wanting more. Rather than slowing down to the softer approach as happened earlier, the closing track here closes on a high, finishing with a serious smack around the head and a reminder that this was one heavy assed album, and that Black Tamanous area band with a serious mission to bring almighty power back to the forefront of our listening pleasure.
It was clear from the off that this was going to be a heavy album, but I didn’t expect it to be quite this heavy – but it was so so good! Black Tamanous have managed to harness a real sense of metal through their music but added their own unique approach to things onto it, showing that Wales is gearing up to be a place where we can expect to see a hell of a lot of damned good metal coming from. If you’re looking for heavy, and looking for an album to get hold of, then look no further – this is it!
To find out more about Black Tamanous, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Tacoma Part 1: From Earth sets the wheels in motion, immediately throwing us into a horror fuelled pit of devastation using sound effects to set the mood, and suggesting that what we’re in for is going to be one heavy assed ride. You can’t help but feel that the sound of someone being locked into a trunk of a car is designed to be the listener, saying we’ve gone too far to turn back and that we won’t rest until he’s dead. It’s surprising then that the opening musical moments are more melodic than heavy, harking towards Pantera in some was with the bass fuelled guitar work and sense of darkness which flows through the track. Effectively introducing us to the band through this track, it’s a dark but melodic opening to things, which holds a sting in the tail – an almighty smash in the face from some serious roaring and guitar work – heavy it is, yet full of melodic moments which shouldn’t work – but do.
Awakening shows off the true colours of the band, immediately slowing down the pace to a low tuned roar of guitar work and pounding drumlines. Powerful doesn’t seem to do the sound justice, as what we’re presented with is beyond powerful – it’s an almighty onslaught of distorted riffs, powerful drums and bass heavy rhythms. Soon picking up the pace once again, this is a track which is sure to find its true power on the live scene, the sort of thing which is going to unleash merry hell on an unsuspecting venue and get pits the likes of which have never been seen moving. Decapitated sounds like it’s going to be heavy purely based on the name, and sure enough as it grows, there’s a real sense that this is going to be a stand out track. The sludgy bass which gets things going continues the dark idea of the record, before launching us head first into a slow but incredibly heavy melee of guitar work and roars. To me, this is what metal should sound like, it’s got the power you’re looking for and the feeling that this is going to lift any bad mood you might have been in before you heard this. Sludgy, powerful and downright distorted from start to finish, this is heavy assed metal done well, and the sort of thing which is going to get heads banging from everyone in ear shot.
Blood, Bone and Bile once again opens with a sound bite of vocals before launching us back into the bands distorted pit of power, moving away from the fast finish of the previous track and instead throwing down into a mid tempo style track which will leave you dumbfounded at the sheer amount of power they seem to have harnessed into it. Rolling drums combine with roaring vocal lines and powerful guitar work, the whole mix forming into something which stands out as a serious high point on the album, the sort of track which is going to work seriously well on the live scene, and the sort of thing you won’t forget in a hurry! The Red Tree and Down To The Bones continue the distorted journey, each track presenting us with a hammering onslaught of elements, but it’s when Tacoma Part 2: In Shadow comes about that we’re returned to the opening moments of the album once again. Not for children, the horror sound effect which gets things going makes sure we’re not having doubts about things and tells us to get back in there to finish the job. Once again showing off a more melodic (yet dark) side of the band, the contrast here is quite stunning, really sitting you back so you can take it all in, showing the band understand their sound and aren’t simply hammering out a load of distortion. Leading us into A Confrontation we’re soon returned to that distorted approach, this time throwing down with a groove laden track designed to get you moving. Fast paced but rolling throughout, this is circle pit territory, and it’s looking damned good. Standing out as another serious high point on the record, this is a track to make sure you check out, simply to bear witness to what a band can do when they set their mind to it.
Skullfucked continues the distorted approach and once again throws down with an unrelenting track designed to unleash an almighty power to their audience. Powerful, fast and somehow still incorporating a sense of melody into things, this stand out track manages to sound even heavier and more powerful, simply based on the contrasting drumming which is adopted throughout – another one to check out. The Death Rattle Of Multiple Miggs and Lost both continue this approach, but to me, it’s when Interfector comes about that another serious high is achieved on the record. Rolling double bass powers the track onwards and combines with distorted riffs, forming into a sludgy mix akin to old school Sepultura in someways, but showing that the band have a serious understanding of their music and what they’re doing. This track is one which I have to see on the live scene as if they can pull this power off on the live front, then I think we’re going to be hearing a lot more from these guys in the very near future.
Closing with Tacoma Part 3: To Ashes the album goes full circle, finishing as it began with more of those samples, finishing what was started at the beginning of the album and leaving you wanting more. Rather than slowing down to the softer approach as happened earlier, the closing track here closes on a high, finishing with a serious smack around the head and a reminder that this was one heavy assed album, and that Black Tamanous area band with a serious mission to bring almighty power back to the forefront of our listening pleasure.
It was clear from the off that this was going to be a heavy album, but I didn’t expect it to be quite this heavy – but it was so so good! Black Tamanous have managed to harness a real sense of metal through their music but added their own unique approach to things onto it, showing that Wales is gearing up to be a place where we can expect to see a hell of a lot of damned good metal coming from. If you’re looking for heavy, and looking for an album to get hold of, then look no further – this is it!
To find out more about Black Tamanous, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls