Lowen
Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran
Church Road Records
It’s here, an album that’s vision far exceeds my wordcount, strap in warriors, for Lowen have truly arrived. Drifting in on eastern promise and there it is, front and centre Nina Saeidi’s giant, bewitching voice. A high priestess storming in over the mountainous riffs of Shem Lucas and we are not in Kansas anymore!
Right from the off on Corruption On Earth, Lewis Johns’ production is gigantic! You could level mountains with the guitar tone alone. Lead single Najang Bah Divhayeh Mazandaran stuns in its majesty and it’s here we hear the amazing percussive dexterity of Cal Constantine in full force because what holds this entire album is its powerhouse rhythm so unlike mainstream metal traditions, they show vision beyond western cliche and a willingness to push into to new worlds and unchartered territories at least within UK Metal. The guitarwork also dances around eastern scales and modes but all with a deep knowledge of the metal genre this is based in Shem’s true devotion to the sound, again, no one is quite doing it as large and as cinematic as Lowen. Waging War Against God utterly flattens you, Ghazal For The Embrace Of Fire is pure thunderous rage from the skies all with the authority and grace of Nina Saeidi, the most important voice I’ve heard in years. There’s prog driven twists and turns, worldly musical embellishments.
Put honestly and succinctly this is metal on a scale you are so not ready for! Buy on sight, because at this point in the game the roster on Church Road is ground-breaking.
Reviewed By George Miller