Album Review: Warcoe – A Place For Demons (Morbid And Miserable Records)

Warcoe, the Italian three-piece that deal in doom and gloom, with plenty of groove, are back with their second album, ‘A Place for Demons’. Out on December 15th, 2023, via Morbid and Miserable Records.

Warcoe take proto-doom and give it much groovier flavour, and this enigmatic style is garishly present on this new album. From the moment the riffs of the title track arrive, you’ll know you’re in for something quite mind-melting and body-shaking. The sheen of psychedelia is all over this track, and the album as a whole.

It is doom though, none the less, and Warcoe up the ante with the crashing sinisterness of Pyramid of Despair. Again, those riffs are just the best, but also, the vocals are really Ozzy-era Sabbathy here. Followed by the instrumental esoteric melody of Rune Dweller, before Leaves brings back the heavy and dark doom with aplomb. Warcoe sounding their absolute heaviest here.

Although there’s nothing light about the rampant gloom of Ishkur either, as Warcoe bring back the groove, while also sounding a bit more experimental. Experimentation that continues to exert its presence on Boys Become Kings, although the classic doominess of this track is what truly stands out. Warcoe set the teeth on edge here with the tempo, but create so much doomy grandeur, it’s very hard not to love every second of it. How about that guitar solo at the end too? Brilliant stuff.

Finally, it’s Wounds Too Deep to Heal and Buio, and two more examples of melancholy and groove smashed together in delightful style. Warcoe take the proto-doom sound and really make it their own here. Particularly with the epic that is the latter track. You’ll feel that one in your soul.

Warcoe – A Place for Demons Track Listing:

1. A Place for Demons
2. Pyramid of Despair
3. Rune Dweller
4. Leaves
5. Ishkur
6. Boys Become Kings
7. Wounds Too Deep to Heal
8. Buio

Links

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