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Rose Kemp: Golden shroud
23/02/12 || gk
Rose Kemp is the daughter of British folk rock icons Maddy Prior and Rick Kemp of Steeleye Span. She got her start singing with her parents when in her teens and then released a pop album in the early 2000s. So how does she fit in with everything else here at GD? Well, sometime around 2004 her music started to change and move towards a more rock direction. Then, over the course of 3 full lengths, Rose seemed to be slowly approaching an extreme mix of doom with folk rock and her unique vocal approach. Finally, in 2010, she released “Golden Shroud” which is one of the most interesting doom metal albums from the last few years and the perfect culmination to the path she first set on with 2007s “A Handful of Hurricanes.”.
3 songs with a run time of over 40 minutes means that ‘Golden Shroud’ isn’t for everyone. You need to be a hardened follower of the doom. Having said that, most of you will know whether you like or hate the “Golden Shroud” in the first few seconds. As album opener “Black Medik II” opens with a lilting acapella that is melodious but also unsettling and slowly grows to include a droning doom riff, you know this is not your standard order doom. When the main riff kicks in and Kemp’s vocals explode in a shrill scream you’re pretty sure there’s nothing standard about this music. After this, simply succumb to the mood, the atmosphere and the music. “Blood Run Red” has a very folk music approach to the vocals and again starts with a superb acapella before descending into a murky doom metal song with a crushing main riff. Half way through the 17 minute song, she hits a 4 line vocal melody that is just beautiful matching the melancholic feel of the music perfectly with the superb lyrics. “Lead Coffin” closes the album as another vocal chorus starts the song but this time with some sustained feedback as backing. In fact, its on the first part of this song that her guitar playing comes closest to the drone of early Earth while her vocals here are the most harrowing on the album.
This is wild, experimental and completely fearless doom. Kemp’s vocals are the star here. She goes from soft and melodious to high pitched shrieking to a confident singing voice that is incredibly impressive. Imagine if somehow Jarboe, Diamanda Galas and Karen Crysis had a baby. Kemp embodies something of the spirit of all three women but in a completely unique manner that is all her own. Kemp’s guitar playing is a bit like a slowed down tribute to 70s prog rock. While her tone is heavy and crushing, the riffs more often than not are catchy and the perfect foil to her vocal histrionics. Her backing band, consisting of Joe Garcia on bass and James King on drums are more than capable and provide the perfect foil to these giant, strangely groovy riffs. Never trying to outshine the guitars and vocals but always providing the perfect support.
“Golden Shroud” can be a difficult listen and it might take a few listens to appreciate and understand fully. It’s not for the faint of heart or people with short attention spans. However, it is fantastic music from start to finish and an absolute must for doom metal enthusiasts.
- Information
- Released: 2010
- Label: 12 Year Stretch
- Website: www.rosekemp.info/
- Band
- Rose Kemp: vocals, guitars
- Joe Garcia: bass
- James King: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Blood Medik II
- 02. Blood Run Red
- 03. Lead Coffin
