#307: BARBARIAN HERMIT - DEMO MMXVI

2016

Sludge Metal

Self Released

I first saw Barbarian Hermit about a year ago on a bill with BongCauldron and Pist at the tiny Kraak Gallery in Manchester. At the time they didn't strike me as the most original sounding band, or the most confident performers, but they still put on a great show with a desert stricken Kyuss kind of sound. Since then I must have seen them perform another 5 or 6 times, and the growth this band has taken is absolutely astonishing. In a relatively short time, they've gone from being the opening slot band to being headliners, before my very eyes. When you see them perform in their hometown Manchester now, you've got to fight your way to the front of the stage if you want to catch a glimpse, as I witnessed first hand at the MMC Weekender that took place this January at Rebellion Bar; a new hotspot and centre point for the Manchester Metal Collective, a scene that is bursting at the seems with not only talent, but a true sense of community. It feels weird to think that Barbarian Hermit are relative newcomers to this scene, because it feels like they are the ones in command now!

And on that same page of thought, "Demo MMXVI" is the very first release by Barbarian Hermit. And I absolutely fail to believe it... Why? Because... Just listen to it! DAMN! Even some of the greatest Metal bands out there like Kyuss, Crowbar and EyeHateGod who have inspired the Hermits could listen to this and think "Fuck, our first demo was nowhere near as great as this!" You only need to spend about a minute of opening track "Mermaid" to see where I'm coming from. For a first demo, the recording quality, the mix is just spot on. These guys have a hell of a sound going on! But what shrines through the most is how clear Barbarian Hermit's vision is. Over these 6 incredible songs you will hear some of the most CRUSHING, FLATTENING and APOCALYPTIC riffs!!! Just stick on "Burn the Fire" if you don't believe me!

There are so many fantastic moments on every song of this EP. The first time you hear the guys properly kick into full force on "Mermaid" is one of those holy shit, chills down your spine moments, as they have such a rich and thick sound that will blow your balls (or ovaries) off! The finale of "Tigerhorse" in particular is exquisite, with vocalist Si delivering a truly knockout performance. You'll probably end up screaming along as you listen, and then end up being forcibly removed from the library!

"Burn the Fire" will make you shit your pants! I'm not quite sure how exactly one burns the fire, but this song is the number 1 cause of the furniture in my house being smashed to pieces! This song has been my metal anthem of the year so far, I've broke the speed limit to it in my car, it's kept me awake in bed even when I've got to be up for work at 9am, and I've even gone poops with it blasting out of my I-phone, which gave me a new appreciation for the title! This song gets me every time and my neck will never forgive me! It boasts one of the catchiest and tastiest riffs I've ever heard, starting with Chris Wood's rumbling fuzz bass and kicking in about 1 bar before you expect it to, and then changing your life forever! Monumental is an understatement! 

"BxExAx" is another massive favourite, whose opening lyrics make me think of hellbent killer robots turning on their human masters in some futurist dystopian nightmare. The main verse riff sounds a bit like the breakdown riff from "Raining Blood" slowed down and thrown into a sludgy pit! This song is so cold and brutally heavy that it even makes me think of bands like Godflesh and Meshuggah, who embrace this mechanical, Sci-Fi, Nostromo kind of feel to their music. "Widowmaker" is a truly epic riff monster that has been punctuated by an awesome music video (also check out "Burn the Fire"'s green screen gone haywire video). Whilst "Alma" manages to show their versatility, switching from rawkus pounding Thrash worthy of early Sepultura, before out of nowhere switching into the sweetest Doom riff. I've seen people's necks snap into pieces when they perform this live! "Alma" is lovingly named after The Alma Inn in Bolton, one of the other focal points of the astonishing North West Metal scene.

The fact that this demo comes on a CD-R in a minimalist paper sleeve with the band's logo on is almost insulting, because this album length 40 minute behemoth is so good that I feel like it should be on the shelves of HMV, selling at £9.99 with the full on digipak and booklet treatment, optional gatefold vinyl edition, perhaps with some sweet Dominic Sohor artwork! This isn't a demo! This is the REAL FUCKING DEAL!!! But perhaps I shouldn't be insulted, because a true hermit will soldier on in their journey without the need for the glitz. Or perhaps Barbarian's next release is going to be so good it blows this stuff out of the water (which would be an extreme challenge indeed). All 5 band members have poured their heart and soul into these 6 songs and you can feel it. Such tight playing, such ferocious vocals, the fuzz of the bass, the harmonising riffs throughout "Mermaid", this band feel like they have been perfecting their sound for over a decade and are playing at their peak!!!

Sure I can think of plenty of bands who Barbarian Hermit sound similar to and have taken inspiration from. You can hear bits of Down, Crowbar, Kyuss, EyeHateGod, Sabbath... Sure, whatever. But when you put this CD on... You forget that ANY other band exists. It is extremely different for a band to play a style of music that has been done to death and isn't by any means original, yet make it sound completely fresh, new, exciting and groundbreaking all at the same time. You can put this band on a bill full of other great Doom bands and they will come out on top! Barbarian Hermit have walked this tightrope, and almost came out of nowhere doing it. I don't think any of us who attended that Kraak gallery gig were at all ready for it! If you haven't heard this demo yet, then GET INVOLVED RIGHT NOW!!! This is one of the finest snapshots of the incredible Metal scene that is happening right now in Manchester! Get the CD, wear the T-shirt, see the live show and you'll never look back! 10/10.