Album Review: Radian - Chapters
Reviewed by Tim Finch
Radian are not a band that many of our U.K. readers will be familiar with. The Akron, Ohio based sludge metal quartet have been dealing their own take on the genre in the US for two years now. This February the band self release ‘Chapters’ their debut album, which highlights the talent these men have.
Recorded in Ohio by Dave Johnson and mixed in LA by Sean Sullivan (who has worked with the Red Hot Chili Peppers). This album has a huge sound, almost vibrant for a sludge metal recording. It’s certainly something different, in a good way!
The ten minute behemoth of ‘Stonier’ kicks us off. White noise leads in a gentle guitars intro, building slowly; the catchy riff growing as the drums kick in and Jeff Fahl lets out a haunting scream. The song gives off a stoner rock vibe sonically although those vocals take the band down a darker route. The slow but steady pace of the song perfectly encapsulates the listener, the bass ringing out and driving the overall sound.
‘Nothing Gets Through’ is faster, there’s an undercurrent of a thrashy riff but the sludge sound really comes to the fore. The four minute track length gives the song some urgency and helps keep the pace and intensity high. ‘Beast’ starts off with a grunge sound, distant vocals completely different in styling to the rest of the album so far. It’s an interlude that breaks up the album and keeps the band out of the rut that so many sludge acts fall into - this album is anything but "samey". As the song ramps up the grunge feel falls by the way side and Fahl’s aggressive vocals kick back in.
A magical Jeff Sullivan drum solo kicks off ‘Hearts of Metropolis’ and that talented drum line continues throughout this track. It gives an added dimension to the bands sound. They mix, pace and stylings in this track proving they are no one trick pony. The album is closed by ‘Not Dying’ another track that picks up the pace and drives an energetic close to the recording.
Many will not have heard of Radian before this album, but this is sure to propel them into the limelight. A sludge metal album that delivers a huge sound, majestic pace variations and a mix of accompanying styles that ultimately garnishes this opus with a cutting edge over so many others in a crowded genre.
Overall a job well done!
Radian's 'Chapters' is out now. Check it out via their bandcamp page.
