Formed in Charlotte, North Carolina back in
2017, Cosmic Reaper has steadily grown into
a force within the heavy underground. With their 2021 self-titled debut, they
introduced themselves as purveyors of thick, fuzz-drenched doom that flirted
with psychedelia, while 2022’s “Doom Sessions Vol. 7” hinted at a darker and more
aggressive direction. Now, with the addition of guitarist Pete Snasdell joining founding members Thad Collis (vocals/guitar), Garrett Garlington (bass), and Jeremy Grobsmith (drums), the band stands sharper and
heavier than before.
“Bleed The
Wicked, Drown The Damned” is an album written under black skies, overflowing
with colossal riffs and a swampy, Southern swing that never lets the listener
drift too far from its gravitational pull. The production is thick, amplifiers
groaning under maximum pressure, while the vocals echo like a sermon delivered
from deep within the catacombs. Across its 43 minutes, the album balances
weighty doom marches with hallucinatory flourishes, slipping easily between
crushing heaviness and eerie atmospherics.
This album was
built brick by brick, riff by riff, and then left to fester under the heat of
Southern sun and amplifier tubes. The influences are there from classic doom,
sludge, to a brush of grunge’s darker side but the delivery is distinctly
theirs, presented without compromise.
The band
promised heavier themes and broader scope for their sophomore full-length, and
“Bleed The Wicked, Drown The Damned” delivers just that. It’s a record that
thrives on atmosphere, groove, and heaviness, making it an immersive listen for
fans of Windhand, Monolord,
or Acid Mammoth. Not every moment hits with
the same intensity but overall, the album keeps its grip and sustains a
head-nodding, doom-soaked ritual from start to finish.
Score: 7.5
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