Shepherd "Stereolithic Riffalocalypse" - Live: A Debate
After a long hiatus, as a result of some cheapass corporate stuff we do, Live: A Gig is back with another review. This time we slow things down, and take up Bangalore based Shepherd’s upcoming offering - Stereolithic Riffalocalypse. Apart from the cool name of the album, we have something cooler (nope, we still can’t afford an air conditioner). For this one, Sairaj Kamath from Centuries of Sin joins our pothead maniac, to discuss about the album. Off to Live: A Sin!Abhiraj: Hello, is there anybody in there?
Sairaj: Affirmative, Mandolin Man. Thanks for having me on Live: A Gig!
Abhiraj: No problem, kiddo! Now getting down to business before my high goes off. Stereolithic Riffalocalypse! What a cool name for an album!
Sairaj: Definitely, man. With titles like “Spite Pit” and “Bog Slime”, Shepherd have totally got this word duology thing down pat. Until now, the only two-fer phrases I loved were “School’s Out” and “Beef Kebab”.
Abhiraj: Beef Kabab! Now seriously getting down to business. Starting off with the album, there has been a lot of changes to the band since the last time I saw them live. Never seen them with the current lineup and of course, with all three members laying their vocals for their songs. The only two times I had the opportunity to catch them live were during the early days of the band, where they were still looking for that signature sound. I didn’t know what to expect from the album, but it is surprising to see that they have become totally a powerpack-ed outfit in the span of around 2 years, if my mathematics skills are still working.
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| Copyright - Danz Photography and Echoes From Beneath |
Sairaj: Keeping that scourge of primary school aside for now, I feel that this album actually merges Doom-y Sabbath sensibilities with the Stoner sound and dirty sense of humour that you could only get from the 90s and early 2000s. Why, even the vocals actually reminded me a bit of those of Alice In Chains; that kind of yarling/wailing that made both Layne Staley and William Duvall so distinctive among rock and metal singers. Other than those, Shepherd have also managed to accelerate the whole riff-eroony package with blistering solos as well.
Abhiraj: I’m surprised they got through the censor board without any cuts in their lyrics.
Moving on, yes, there is a nice feel of a crossover Rock-to-Metal evolution sound going on with the band. The solos, well, I’m more of a different kind of a guitar solo lover, so they didn’t quite do the trick
for me. The vocals, at times I thought they were a bit low on volume, but then, with subsequent listens, the volume and tone just seemed perfect for me. Must have been the long disconnect from the whole Metal scene for me.
Another thing I did like in the album is the use of atmospheric elements, stereo panning, etc. That gives it a nice drone-y edge. And, when a stoner listens to that, it’s always “Dude! I’m floating in the riverbed of Pluto”. Really nice on the record, but, the ultimate question is - can they produce the exact sound live? You, having seen them live more recently than me, would be the right person to ask this question to.
Sairaj: Well, I’d have to say that Shepherd do a good job on the live front as well. The stoner sound, especially its guitar tone, is relatively easier to pull off in a live setting than that “polished” one that other bands strive for. Although, I can’t exactly remember if they managed to reproduce those atmospheric elements that you spoke of. Jager with Whiskey somehow does that to a person.
Abhiraj: Ah, you drunk kids these days. Anyways, another thing that I would like to point out is the amount of diversity we get to hear on the record. You have tracks like “Black Cock of Armageddon”, giving you the distinctive Black Sabbath feel, and then you have a track like “Turdspeak”, which I found pretty similar to a Black Label Society song, minus the millions of pinch harmonics. And maybe, a testosterone pumped Zakk Wylde. But, yes, the diversity impresses me. This factor may very well be the biggest talking point of the album in days to come.
Sairaj: I think the perfect test case for that diversity is “Bog Slime”. You have the slow doom-y riffs, the spacey atmospheres, a nice tempo change later on in the song that totally pumps things up, etc. One funny moment for me in the song was that break in the middle, which damn near convinced me that either that song was over, or my VLC Player was acting up.
Another thing which I feel like bringing up is the vocals in “Wretch Salad”. It almost sounds to me like the vocalists went straight up Ozzy in tha hizz-aus! It’s like the man himself had the munchies, broke into their studio searching for Bat kebabs, and decided to contribute some nasally nonsense to the vocals in that track.
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| Copyright - Danz Photography and Echoes From Beneath |
Sairaj: And we’re sliding into the negatives. The most delicious part of the review. *rubs hands like an evil Mother-in-law*
Well, this is not so much a negative, as an unfortunate thing that might work against the album’s favour. The tempos in all the tracks do get monotonous, so much so that you might not be able to distinguish between them. I know that Stoner-Doom has that universal “slow sound” which is of course awesome in its own way, but at the same time, it’s difficult to cherry-pick or even recognise a track from the others if you’re listening to them live or without seeing the playlist. Basically, the “uniqueness” factor is kind of hard to come by for any one track in the album.
Abhiraj: The thing about Doom is that the tracks are slow, and heavy. There are songs that may not need any advanced knowledge of guitar playing to play them, but having said that, there isn’t much you can do to change the sound of the whole album per se. In a time when the whole scene is saturated with thousands of bands, finding that signature sound is hard. Shepherd did a great job in that part, in my opinion, with the way they have composed and arranged the songs; in the album, as well as the basic riff structures. Yes, it is predictable at times and it does get monotonous, but that comes with the package, and nothing can be done. Just like you would expect some considerable amount of breakdowns from modern metal bands, or a definite harmonica solo from a country song, there will be something or the other that you can predict from a Doom band. But, the way they take advantage of the negative part is what sets the good bands from the greats. In this case, Shepherd is certainly on the right track.
Sairaj: I guess that perspective has some merit. It’s just that, from my perspective in my city, I’ve noticed this thing called the “Bangalore Doom Syndicate”. Basically, it’s this collective of bands like Dying Embrace and Bevar Sea that set up gigs in the city for themselves and other bands, and there’s a high endorsement of Stoner, Sludge and Doom metal in those things. If I remember right, I saw Shepherd jamming in one of those gigs itself. Fitting right into a scene or sound is one thing, but there’s also the option of turning that sound right onto its head in a good bit of experimentation. Maybe Shepherd can pull a “High On Fire” trick sometime and make their sound more aggressive? That would be a DAMN COOL route to take the Stoner-Doom sound through.
Abhiraj: Well, at one point of time, you will have to experiment to stand out. To be seen or heard by people. Or, just to get an album contract with a label. With the lineup and experience of the individual members of Shepherd, I’m sure they can pull that hurdle off and set for bigger gains in the future. But, for the time being, if Stereolithic Riffocalypse is to be judged as a base for their journey, I would say, Shepherd may actually be India’s answer to a long lost Stoner Doom band that can get the crowd engaged. My personal views, I didn’t get paid to write that.
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| Copyright - Danz Photography and Echoes From Beneath |
Sairaj: Dude, this is the INDIAN metal scene we’re talking about here. They would probably only be able to pay you with half a blunt and a cup of Mishti Doi.
Getting to the album, I agree, it’s a fine base for Shepherd. One cannot afford to get too high-handed with a debut album (unless they’re Opeth or something). It’s just meant to introduce listeners to the starting or definitive sound of a band. In this case, ‘Stereolithic Riffalocalypse’ has the heavy riffs to be taken seriously by metalheads, and the total cock-rock vibe in its lyrics and vocals to keep the Stoners and alt-rock fans satisfied.
Abhiraj: The most I got paid for reviewing metal album(s) was a McChicken burger. Without fries. Or, Coke.
Anyway, yes, the conclusion can be drawn and we can surely settle on the fact that this very album has the potential to change the Indian metal scene; sooner, or later.
Moving on from the album. In the coming days, I’d like to see something like a Stoner Goregrind or some shit. That would be good! And, controversial too. Or, maybe a Pop Black Metal band from India. That would be the real shit!
Sairaj: Stoner Doom Pornogrind? “Cheech and Chong Fucked With a Knife”? “Entrails Ripped from Seth Rogen’s Cunt”?
Abhiraj: Before the censor board catches on to us; goodbye, cruel world.
P.S. - We didn’t use the word “Bombay”. Don’t censor us please :’(
Sairaj: I’M TOO PRETTY TO GO TO JAIL :’( :’(
See ya.
Varun: Hello, anyone here? Am I too late? Fuck this corporate shit.
Listen to Stereolithic Riffalocalypse here:
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