Kongh – “Shadows of the Shapeless”

The newest release from Kongh, Shadows Of The Shapeless, is an unbelievable heavy auditory onslaught that I would describe as doom metal. At times, the disc is relentlessly heavy and distorted, but it still has an experimental or indie quality to it that make it multi-dimensional. Even though some of the songs are extremely long (two of them top at over fifteen minutes long), and one might say avant-garde, I found it refreshing that someone is willing to take a chance and step outside the box to create something fresh, new and different. The bonus is I did not find myself getting bored in the slightest bit. I believe that is mainly because there is so much variety in their writing that you are not sure where the songs are going to end up and you unaware of what is around the next measure or beat.

While the songs are brutally heavy, many of them also include “mellow” or what I would call ambient parts that are toned down and allow the songs to breath and resonate, which I feel is at times necessary after being battered.

While I could compare these guys to a mixture of The Melvins and Black Sabbath I really would do them no justice because even though there are elements and influences from both of these bands, I really do not know any way to categorize these guys other than to say that they are heavy and well… gloomy.

I really dig this disc, mainly for the fact that it is different from most of what is going on in metal right now. There are a few bands doing the Doom thing but I feel none of them do it quite as well as Kongh. If you truly want to hear something out of the ordinary check out Shadows of the Shapeless, it will be well worth your while.  [ END ]

Track Listing:

01. Unholy Water
02. Essence Asunder
03. Tank Pa Doden
04. Voice Of The Below
05. Shadows Of The Shapeless

Run Time: 56:38
Release Date: 05.15.2009