Black Totem – II: Shapeshifting

Label: Svart Records
Release date: 26 February 2021

Hailing from Turku, Finland, Black Totem is a death rock quartet with doom influences and some bluesy undertones. The current group of four is relatively new, yet individual members of the band have over a decade of experience. Their beginnings started in 2008 as a duo with Spit Poison on guitars and Tony Cash on drums. Then in 2016, the two became four when adding another guitar with Sam Hate, and a bass with Wera Wolf. These names sound a little intimidating and for good reason. Black Totem like to play hard and look tough as nails while doing it. Wearing leather and bullet belts and showing lots of skin, they’re almost edgy but genuine enough to be downright cool.

Black Totem as a duo first released music with the I Brought You Back EP in 2009. It’s gritty and fuzzed out, sounding like a remaster of an old recording of an underground blues band. It’s almost like the sweat and dirt is built into the music, the groove sloppy but solid. 2012 saw their second release, the I Will Haunt You EP, which is tighter, and has longer songs. This EP is also more mellow, doom elements starting to seep in through the rolling monotonous riffs. Black Totem seemed to really hone their sound on their first album, self-titled and released in 2015. While still rough, the riffs are no longer muddy and the drums have more body, the backup vocals creating another layer of depth. Now, with two new members, Black Totem have offered a continuation of their first album with II: Shapeshifting.

The album hits hard with its opener, Begone Vampire, both the guitars and drums insistent and competing with Poison’s vocals. The bluesy tones of other releases have been fine-tuned, giving a dark and swampy vibe. Too soon, this one ends and another begins with The Devil. This track leans hard into being doom, the guitar and drum hitting the same beat and urging you to headbang and really feel it. The riffs here are very crisp and the backup vocals elegantly match their pitch. Again, this track is too short for satisfaction. It really feels like one can only get a taste of what Black Totem has to offer before they change it up again, leaving you hungry for more.

The next track, 1990’s, is slower and shifts between blues and doom seamlessly. Wolf’s backup vocals serve to lift up Poison’s lead, the two making a great team. By the end of this track, everything blends together, vocals and guitars and drums all blaring out in a beautiful mess. Black Nekro Gloves is the shortest track on the album, yet it manages to fit a lot in. Its quick beat and pounding drums are almost overshadowed by Poison’s powerful vocals. The next track, Bloodstained Owl, begins with a peculiar set of almost operatic vocalizations that make themselves known several times throughout. The pace has slowed again, but the bluesy melody shifts to hard rock, threatening to explode out by the end.

Ghoul of Crow Swamp is heavy and deep, the guitars and drums making a fuzzy wall of doom that holds up Poison’s blues rock vocals. This is definitely one of the strongest tracks on the album and deserves an extra play when listening. Next up, Dead Meat practically blows the previous out of the water with its hard rocking guitar and booming bass. A nice touch is the soft crooning of Wolf to give this track a bit of mystique. Backyard Corpse Blues brings back the doom vibes again, almost inquisitive riffs pushing out under Poison’s howling. About halfway through, it slows and becomes more twisted, making a softer yet evil sound that highlights the dark lyrics.

The evil continues with Welcome Lucifer, a slow headbanging ritual narrated by Poison with the choral assistance of Wolf. This track takes several turns, giving the guitars, drums, and bass their own spotlights throughout. The final track on the album is Warlock, a slow and hazy grind that has no real direction. This track is not necessarily weak as much as it is simply easygoing. This makes it a nice cooldown to finish off the album, leaving the listener satisfied.

Black Totem‘s influences are nothing new. Rock, doom, and blues have all been known about for longer than most can remember. However, what this group brings to the table is more of that quality sound without skimping on quantity. Every track tells a story and have their own unique feels while still maintaining the signature sound Black Totem has kept all along. Fans of Zeal & Ardor will definitely find a new favorite here and with any luck, Black Totem will soon share that same level of notoriety.

Line up:

• Spit Poison (he/him) – Vocals, bedpan guitar
• Sam Hate (he/him) – Guitar
• Wera Wolf (she/her) – Bass, vocals
• Tony Cash (he/him) – Battery, vocals

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