Review: “Book of the Machines” by Moose Cult

In the dark corners of distant worlds it is whispered that the need for a new cult arose when Jonny Moose began to stockpile a significant number of Death Doom riffs during the great plague years. Having albums already in the works for his unholy trinity of other projects in Monsterworks, Thūn and Bull Elephant and yet still having a creative energy the riff lord found like minded musicians he chose fretless bassist Hugo Cult, drummer James Knoerl (Aviations, Gargoyl, Thūn) and lead guitarist Tommy Loose (Smokescreen) to fill the voids he could not. 2023 saw the release of a self titled debut album, an overarching concept of preserving nature and “envirometal” capturing the imagination. A year further down the track and lyrical inspiration was found in the novel “Erewhon” (Samuel Butler, 1872) which is one of the first examples to ponder machine intelligence and self-replication. Mastered by Dan Swanö (October Tide, Necrophobic, Omnium Gatherum) at Unisound in Germany, the “Book of the Machines” is upon us…

A Death Doom record with a spine of Traditional Heavy Metal, the first chapter of “Book of the Machines” is titled “Erewhon” and almost reaches the nine minute mark with consummate ease. That is in part due to its enchanting extended instrumental passages which meander delicately with the grace of a ballerina, circling the drain of Progressive Metal with rich dark melodies in doing so. A couple of punchy verses of harsh unclean vocals from Moose add another dimension to the psychedelic dream, as if some magic mushrooms were consumed in order to prise open the third eye with a crowbar. As if from out of nowhere Knoerl then starts “Death Mediation” with fleeting blast beats giving the track an instantly gratifying blackened quality as the throat grating banshee wail like shriller vocals from Moose tear a hole in the fabric of space and time. A heavy hitter with Scandinavian influences and eerie riffs, the sonic abrasion is almost the polar opposite of the opening cut until a mesmerising melodic interlude conclusion that no one saw coming. The transition between the two styles is slick, the band leveraging every ounce of their past experiences in conjuring this collection. Bitter, twisted and downright nasty unclean vocals once again rear their ugly head as “Curse of Creation” comes to life, that caustic element helping separate Moose Cult from the pack of wolves in the same sonic territory. From there things transcend through a soaring solo with warmth and beauty, the contrast between those vocals and the instrumental making the track something special. A heavier mid section feels fitting and appropriate before turning back on itself with a second solo and stirs the soul in doing so.

Traditional Heavy Metal influences rise to the surface in “Earth(l)ing“, an almost timeless tune to help you breathe more easily which is so classically old school that it could have been on the soundtrack to Jack Black’s “School of Rock“. The riffs are masterful, the soloing mesmerising with just a splash of almost ethnic style and the percussion adds that spice that’s nice. All of that gives this one that warmth, familiarity and instant appeal meaning you could well be humming the tune before the end of the first listen. Taking the left hand fork in the road “Gateway to Evolving Thought” feels like something of an interlude piece as dark melodies sound brighter on acoustic guitars alongside some ethereal sounds. Fleeting electric guitars make things sound a little bolder and it’s almost as if Moose Cult have transported us into the studio in which Alice In Chains recorded their infamous acoustic live in New York record in front of the MTV cameras. Naturally things get heavier with “Headless Cult” as Knoerl gives us arguably the finest kit performance of the record with some sublime fills and ridiculous energy. The soloing from Loose is majestic alongside the gravelly vocals from Moose making this one a stand out as the fretboards smoulder with the intensity of the sounds created on them. A shade darker “Book of the Machines” has glorious storytelling vibes to it with brutal vocals and urgent riffs in the first half before transcending into an altogether different beast in the second. A thought provoking record with an intelligent lyrical narrative and full of stunning musicianship, the compositions are constantly evolving with electrifying energy… [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Erewhon
2. Death Meditation
3. Curse of Creation
4. Earth(l)ing
5. Gateway to Evolving Thought
6. Headless Cult
7. Book of the Machines

“Book of the Machines” by Moose Cult is out 6th September 2024 via Eat Lead and Die Music with pre-orders available over at bandcamp