LED BY FOXES...
Self-Released.
Sludge Metal, Post-Rock.
Listening Format: CD
Soden are an instrumental Metal trio based in Worcestershire, England. After putting out a couple of well received EPs over the last two years, the band have written, self produced and DIY released this debut full length CD, 'Led By Foxes...' Soden also continue to be a strong force playing live across the UK, and this album very much captures their live essence and sound.
One of the most obvious bands to compare Soden to would be US Post-Metal icons Pelican. Not only do Soden bring crushing Doom riffs, but their understanding of dynamics is fantastic. Across the whole of 'Led By Foxes...', Soden take you on a real journey, telling a story without any lyrics. Opener 'Sleep Paralysis' is not only a fantastic live number, but it is such a great mission statement for the band. The song is a real showcase of melodic, twiddly bass licks, that ebb and flow like tidal waves. So much fuzz and atmosphere is created that you begin to wonder how just three players can make such massive, textured sounds. In particular the use of different pedals creates noisy atmospheres, and the tribal influenced drumming gives such a lively sense of rhythm and groove. The technical abilities of the band really shine, with so many exciting fills and transitions. It's the lengthier tracks that win on this album, with the title track having even more irresistible grooves. Some of the shorter tracks like 'Beyond the Mountain' are awesome balls out riff machines, but it is epics like the teasing stop/start 'Oneireophrenia' and fuzz worship finale 'Trip to Pluto' that excite me the most.
Soden are a band that make the clean, softer sections count as much as the crushing riffs. The trio sound even better when they are crafting these lengthy journeys of sound that take the listener on a sonic trip of peaks and troughs, louds and quiets. The Worcestershire trio are storytellers of sound and this is a fantastically realised debut effort. Some of the tones expressed are beautiful and the drums snap hard. I'd love them to continue to go even further in the future and make their tracks even longer and more progressive! 8/10.
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