DayGlo Mourning – Dead Star

DayGlo Mourning

‘Dead Star’

Black Doomba Records

Stoner/Doom Metal

FFO: Black Label Society, Down, High On Fire, Sleep, Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard

Hitting the world like a two-ton heavy thing, DayGlo Mourning landed on the map and created a crater with their 2018 eponymous debut album. Now, the Georgians are back, crawling out of that grater and lumbering forward with their sophomore album ‘Dead Star’.

                As with all bands in this genre, the band take their mould from the Tony Iommi book of riffs and turn the fuzz factor up to ten to create a groove laden sound that not only takes in doom metal, but also stoner fused with some heart felt southern charm. In fact, the two year absence has played into DayGlo Mourning’s hands, incubated within their crater, the band have stretched out their sound, refined it and worked endlessly on their song crafting, delivering an album which is very listenable, with tiny tweaks to each repeating motif that make the music ever so slightly more enjoyable that the bog standard run of the mill doom. This is an album where the musicians know less is more as blues powered solos float over grinding riffs that have all the appeal of not only High On Fire and Sleep, but also Crowbar and Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard. But, it is the latter part of this album that seals the deal; ‘Dead Star’ takes a trip into occult territory and create something truly memorable as talk-boxes and choirs push this album beyond genericism.

                All in all, ‘Dead Star’ is an album which grows and like all good things, it needs time to be appreciated. Close the curtains, put the lamp on, stack the fridge and stoke the bong, we’re listening to ‘Dead Star’ tonight.

Adam McCann