April 25, 2010

Reviewer: Chris

Chilean doom outfit Procession takes a forty-seven-minute EP titled The Cult of Disease and tries to add to the litany of “doomy” bands that cause moments of dark reflection and wanton abuse of emotions. Still in its infant stages, Procession might have the makings of something if it can build marble edifices on the shaky foundation underfoot.

Overall, the CD is average doom metal that runs the mill nicely on the typical style already out there; it’s not Cathedral- or Warning-caliber by any means, but it’s decent nonetheless. The only problem here is that there’s no one track that really stands out and muscles itself into your brain; it’s good music on its initial run-through, but I’m not entirely sure its staying power is where it could be right now. They might be able to create an opus worthy of Paradise Lost’s legacy or they can slip into footnote oblivion - it’s totally in their collective court. 

They have good songs, solid structure and the necessary dim feel to the tunes, but there’s just something missing that might otherwise hinder a band with some potential. Maybe the songs might go on a bit too long without a real dramatic shift within the songs; that is, where there might be room for some wondrous blast of…something, but there just…isn’t. I hasten to say the songs are boring, but again they just don’t linger like Sabbath’s “Into the Void” or a like-tempo track. In hindsight, the tracks are much of the same stock doom metal every garage band is attempting while Dad’s old Sabbath cassettes receive overplay in the family stereo. If you shake a tree on any block a million doom metal musicians can fall out at any given period, some probably better than others, and unfortunately Procession is in that bushel gathering on the ground. .  

I like doom metal that doesn’t “growl” at me like some guttural spasm gone awry; vocally Felipe Plaza Kutzbach is clean-tone-delivery bemoaning and lamenting with the best of them. His voice, while not original or unique, is good for the music at hand, and what might otherwise be a droning lesson in futility is an otherwise good time. That said, the viability of yet another doom band not necessarily standing out from the bulging pack is not necessarily guaranteed. It’s basically a “take-it-or-leave-it” bargain with your time.

I’m not dismissing the band completely, but for your time you might look elsewhere. It’s okay, but not great - take that for what you might. The talent is there, but so is the stagnation.  

Release Date: February 5th, 2009
Label: Iron Kodex

TRACK LISTING

1.  Raven of Disease
2.  Like a Plague Upon the Earth
3.  The Funeral of an Age
4.  Down the River of Corpses
5.  The Road to the Gravegarden
6.  Incinerate

Total playing time:  47:22

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Procession - The Cult of Disease EP