Entertainment

Duskwood – The Last Voyage

2023-05-12 07:00:49

Duskwood is a band on the go. The stoner-heavy rock sound of the quartet from Somerset, England, founded in 2016, already experienced various minor heavy mutations on their first EPs, which brought them comparisons with all kinds of desert celebrities. They landed on Ripple Music with their first album and they want more. Bigger themes and a bigger sound are meant to go hand-in-hand, and so dares „The Last Voyage“ everything in many respects – with success.

The opening “Vagrant” impressively illustrates the fresh vigor of the Brits. As ominous as the intro may seem, behind it hides a muscle pack with booming riffs and roaring vocals, which constantly spirals to new heights and at the same time has an audible tendency towards latent madness, sprawling solos included. When “Deathproof” kicks off with an ominous bass rumble and repeatedly sets small, calmer caesuras in the midst of an intense storm without a water glass, you feel well entertained. The game with loud-quiet dynamics, accompanied by the incredibly thick production suits Duskwood very well.

“Blackhand” also takes a certain (un)rest with it, comparatively gentle and yet always close to the cathartic jump. When finally released, the hard rock sound takes on bluesy desert qualities. The short, crisp “She Calls” sounds punky in its vehemence at times, while the solo part is completely deconstructed. The nine-minute “Legacy” also plays with sound spheres and expectations, finally breaks out of last expectations and brings desert chic into psychedelic realms. Large parts of the second half sound like a trip jam, expansive and yet intense at the right moments.

The fact that this is (only) a debut album is always surprising in the best sense of the word, because Duskwood seem surprisingly far-reaching for it. Yes, they already have a few concerts and small formats behind them, but the leap to “The Last Voyage” is more than just impressive. The stoner riffs seem more drinkable and expansive, the dynamics in the songwriting have been increased significantly, and there are also significantly more different musical influences in the mix, which also comes across as harmonious and energizing at the same time. The album-length debut is more than a round thing for the Brits, who here make a huge promise for the future.

Rating: 8/10

Available from: 05/12/2023
Available from: Ripple Music (Bertus)

Website: www.duskwood.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/duskwoodmusic