And Then There Were None...

Taking major cues from 1970s rock (not least the omnipresent Black Sabbath) Church of Misery create dense, psychedelically-rooted doom metal. They're a band that wears their influences unashamedly on their sleeve but they do this - for the most part - with enough flair and personality to keep it from feeling totally derivative. The other important part of their shtick is that almost all their songs are themed around real-life serial killers or mass murderers; the tales of violence and degeneracy within the lyrics are complimented by the groove-laden music, instilling a unusual sense of sleazy-cool. They're a fairly unique and contradictory example of how dark, disturbed, catchy and even fun this type of music can be.

'...And Then There Were None' is something of an anomaly in that it's more of a recording project in between line-up changes with permanent member and bassist Tatsu Mikami teaming up with a fairly prominent American guest line-up featuring ex- or current members of Repulsion, Cathedral and Blood Farmers. As far as line-ups go you could do a hell of a lot worse than this crew of underground metal veterans. Certainly Scott Carlson's nasty, throaty vocals are a highlight.

Marked by their general over-the-top approach on previous albums this new one could almost be described as understated by comparison. The overall sound and production is cleaner and leaves a bit more room to breathe. As such it's stronger during the slower or mid-paced parts - where the sweet riff progressions take centre stage - than the fast, boogie-rock sections, which are lacking a bit of fuzz and punch.

As a fairly long-time listener of the band I did notice just a few moments here that sound uncomfortably similar to something already done before on other albums. It's difficult to criticise a band for sounding like themselves but it's never nice to hear something that seems rehashed.

It's a very solid and enjoyable album with many of the Church of Misery hallmarks but I don't feel it's got quite the same level of outrageous gusto that has defined them - sort of like a prolific killer in between victims, it creeps nefariously along. The stand-out track for me would have to be 'Make Them Die Slowly' about Acid Bath Murderer John Haigh - the introductory riff alone is just pure vulgarity!

There's a lot to endear '...And Then There Were None' to existing fans of the band or of the heavy rock and traditional doom metal styles but for new listeners I'd recommended checking out one of Church of Misery's previous full-lengths (you can't really go wrong with 'Houses of the Unholy') to get a taste of them at their best.

Church of Misery has spent its twenty year lifespan revolving countless lineups around bandleader bassist Tatsu Mikami, but the group usually stuck to its Japanese roots. Now with its sixth full-length album, the Church has opened its doors to create a supergroup of sorts based on the American doom scenes. Thankfully the result is a powerful album that is a worthy addition to the band's serial killer obsessed legacy.

While the production job and musicianship may have more polish than past efforts, And Then There Were None has the band's signature tropes firmly intact. The riffs are executed in a sludgy stoner fashion and the sparse samples run well with the usual lyrical themes of non-fictional sadism, torture, and murder. Mikami's bass lines predictably lead the charge but the other members find ways to leave strong impression. Eric Little's drumming directs the tempo changes well, guitarist Dave Szulkin puts a pummeling stamp on the material, and Scott Carlson's first vocal session since the early days of Repulsion sees him pull off a husky yet melodic growl that channels Lee Dorrian and Earthride's Dave Sherman.

The songs aren't bringing much new to the table but they are satisfying in their variety. The mid-tempo grooves on "Make Them Die Slowly" and "Confessions of an Embittered Soul" are among the most infectious ever recorded and the swing on "Doctor Death" is truly something to behold. Like any doom band, you'll find your share of Sabbath homages as "Suicide Journey" is a "Planet Caravan" style interlude while the shuffle on "River Demon" is a near beat for beat echo of "Wicked World."

The logistics surrounding this lineup may lead to it being a temporary studio venture, but And Then There Were None is more than worthy of being associated with Church of Misery. While it may not be gritty as some of their other efforts, the excellent riffs and vicious vocals make it a shining example of how this genre should be played. Highly recommended to both new listeners and thoe who thought that Thy Kingdom Scum would be the Church's final sermon.

Highlights:
"The Hell Benders"
"Make Them Die Slowly"
"Doctor Death"
"Confessions Of An Embittered Soul"