### Archon: The ruins at dusk

#### 23/02/11 || Love Lagerkvist

I remember reading in some interview with one of the dudes from Electric Wizard that he thought one of the biggest problems in today’s metal was the lack of psychedelic drugs at concerts. Luckily, I’ve found the antidote for this uprising problem – American 7-piece Archon. Because let me tell you, these dudes are some nasty motherlovers who produce anything but music your mother would love – unless of course your mother smokes anything that can provoke some sort of fucked up reaction in your brain and likes doom metal from the depth of a southwestern swamp.

On their debut “The ruins at dusk”, Archon freely mash up the best from bands like Kylesa, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, already mentioned Electric Wizard early stuff and Grief with large doses of leaves upon leaves and a delightfully slow pace. Granted, many have tried this recipe before, but few – if any – have succeeded to this degree. Archon actually feel fresh, albeit a bit sweaty.

Instrumental 13-minute starter “Helena (the ruins at dusk)” is a sinister beast that slowly creeps into your head and suffocates you to leave room for the twin beasts called “Nature is Satan’s church” and “The hymn of Mendregard”, whose multi vocals fidelity and terrifying rhythms pummel the listener into a state of hypnosis.

Then comes the mastodon “The fate of gods”, and holy fuck what a mastodon it is. Surprisingly bluesy and with some incredibly passionate playing and songwriting it serves as both an excellent climax and a perfect show of everything Archon does right. 21 minutes that will stay burned into your memory for a long while.

If you dig any of the bands mentioned in this review, you’ll love “The ruins at dusk”. If you crave for some psychedelic stimulation, Archon are your bong. Hell, even if you hate all of these things I still think you should give these dudes (and dudette) a try. If anything, this is some fantastic preparation for the inevitable apocalypse.

- Information
- Released: 2010
- Label: Dark Matter Recordings
- Website: www.archondoom.com
- Band
- A. Jude Riotto: guitar, bass
- Nikhil Kamineni: bass
- Rajah Marcelo: drums
- Brett Zweiman: guitars
- Rachel Brown: vocals
- Chris Dialogue: vocals
- Aaron Campbell: cello

- Tracklist
- 01. Helena (the ruins at dusk)
- 02. Nature is Satan’s church
- 03. The hymn of Mendregard
- 04. The fate of gods