Laudanum – The Coronation

Releasedate: 25-08-2009; Label: 20 Buck Spin
By: Sabine van Gameren

Laudanum are a formation coming from California, USA. Genrewise they hit the sludge/Doom side of metal and they had their debut released in 2004. “The Coronation” is their second full-length.

First thing to notice when hearing this album is that there is a slight touch of industrial over this band. It is layered well and some instruments as horn give a surprising element to their sound. I found the vocals very surprising as well. They bring a bit black metal attitude to the atmospheric area that Laudanum creates. There are both male and female vocals hearable on the album, but the male vocals bring more brutalism. Though, they might have come from deeper places than where they are coming from now, to gain an even more drastic effect. The vocals are provided by all of the band members, but none of them seems to make it his specialty, not even lead vocalist Nathan. Nevrtheless, it’s not too much of an interrupting factor.

In general, there is plenty of variance to hear in the music which keeps my attention very well, which could not really be said by the release of Nadja/Black Bone Angel of the same label. Laudanum made an interesting album, surely on the grow. I won’t forget their name, for the sake of a future pearl.

Line up:
Nathan – Lead Vocals/Noise
Judd – Guitar/Vocals/Noise
Greg – Bass/Vocals/Noise
Becky – Drums/Vocals/Noise

Links:
Laudanum MySpace