Album Review: Morass of Molasses – End All We Know (Ripple Music)

Swamp master generals of the Reading, UK scene, Morass Of Molasses will release their third album, End All We Know on March 24th, 2023, via Ripple Music.

Famed for their chunky blues riffs, stoner groove, and swampy tones, Morass of Molasses could easily get away with just doing what they do best and that’s it. Yet, that’s not what we get with End All We Know.

Oh, it’s Morass of Molasses at their best, be under no false illusions about that. However, it’s also them at their most experimental. Taking their rich sound to more eccentric locales, into heavier depths, and down groovier paths. The result is an album that is enigmatic and exciting. An album that compels you to move like a freak but is also worthy of a bit more study.

Something that becomes apparent with the blend of trippy groove, epileptic riffing, peculiar vocalisation turns, and heart-racing tempo shifts on opener The Origin of North. Morass of Molasses making it clear from the start that this isn’t a repeat of earlier work.

Although that doesn’t mean they don’t have plenty of their lovable heavy blues and stoner-infused heavy groove to offer too. With the brilliant Hellfayre, they do exactly that, blowing minds with a punchy anthem. Before jabbing and prodding the mind matter with the wacked out mentality of Sinkhole. The vocals, and how they punctuate the statements laid out by the riffs, is what stands out here. It might be weird, but it is bloody wonderful.

Not afraid of a bit of dramatic flair, A melodious touch gives Naysayer’s beginning bluesy tone much more prominence, but this is a track that transforms into something with a more robust and heavy edge. The riffs are exceptional but the way the vocals are screamed out is what makes this such a memorable listen.

Continuing to showcase an experimental side, Slingshot Around the Sun has a progressive style and changes tempo and tone throughout. Making it one of the more eclectic sounding and maybe the one track on the album that sounds less like the Morass of Molasses of old. The vocal and guitar harmonisation is killer stuff.

A relaxed and mellow sounding intro leads to an uptick of smile-inducing rock groove with Terra Nova. Once again, there’s nothing rudimentary about the kind of riffs Morass of Molasses are showcasing here. Followed then by even more unabashed and beguiling examples of bluesy melody and progressive rock with Prima Materia.

They’re not quite done yet though and Wings of Reverie finds the band at their most melodramatic sounding. While also delivering a raucous display of energy. The way this track shifts tone and switches tempo is simply stunning and it’s undoubtably the best finale they could have come up with.

Morass of Molasses have really reached a fascinating stage in their careers and this album is an amazing showcase of their increased talents and confidence. They are just going to keep on getting bigger when putting out music like this.

Morass of Molasses – End All We Know Track Listing:

1. The Origin of North
2. Hellfayre
3. Sinkhole
4. Naysayer
5. Slingshot Around the Sun
6. Terra Nova
7. Prima Materia
8. Wings of Reverie

Links

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