Eight Bells - Legacy of Ruin (2022)

It is rare to find truly unique bands these days, luckily for us Eight Bells answers the call with their powerful release “Legacy of Ruin”. Featuring an extremely crafty amalgamation of Post-Metal, Doom Metal, and even some Black Metal-ish elements, this release unleashes over 45 minutes of intricate and engaging aural assaults.

Led by Melynda Jackson, the band quickly establishes their piercing atmosphere with the opener “Destroyer”, a piece filled with piercing guitars and harrowing and contrasting vocal arrangements. Creating a very sinister mood, the release is far from one dimensional as “The Well” explores calmer and yet disturbing interludes alongside faster and punishing onslaughts of heaviness.

Just when you think you have the band figured out, “Torpid Dreamer” shifts gears into proggy and psychedelic territories with crafty guitar work alongside creepy clean (female and male) vocals, giving a heavier Sub Rosa/Sabbath Assembly vibe. We are quite impressed with the epicness of tracks like “Nadir” and their pulsating bass guitar, perfectly intertwined with soaring guitars, creating a truly magical feeling.

As “The Crone” and “Premonition” rolled around, we found ourselves fully immersed in the band’s truly unique and engaging atmosphere. The harsh vocals add a nice touch to elevate the aggressiveness of the band’s sound, adding extra versatility to the lush instrumentation. Overall, “Legacy of Ruin” is one hell of a release filled with tons of uniquely blended elements, creating a fully cinematic and expansive experience unlike no other.

Label: Prophecy Productions

Release: February 25th, 2022

Genre: Experimental/Post-Metal/Doom Metal

Country: USA