Fans of riff-based rock need pay attention because Worshipper has arrived with a large dose of heavy psychedelic rock. In 2015 they were awarded the "Metal Artist Of The Year" at the Boston Music Awards. In 2016 they were recognized again when they won the Rock 'n' Roll Rumble competition. Not too shabby for a relatively new band. They have built upon classic rock mores, constructing a fresh dual guitar attack against a backset of melodic doom.
Before playing with Worshipper, John Brookhouse and Alejandro Necochea were already reknowned as local guitar heroes. It is difficult to point out a track where their leads really shine, because they are shredding all over the album. Both guitarists play precision riffs while displaying Tiger-Claw technique on their guitar necks, methodically allowing quick successions of notes to rip through the mix.
The album kicks off with a barn burner called “High Above The Clouds”. The song begins with the prophetic line “We reached the pyramids at dawn…". This signals the beginning of their ascent. This is when the session starts, the barometer spikes, the light sails into the stratosphere, and they don’t come down until the record is over.
"High Above the Clouds" and "Place Beyond the Light" (both released as singles last year) are modern rock anthems that I play on repeat when I'm drinking celebratory ales in my backyard.
"Ghosts and Breath" is based around a simple middle eastern tinged progression. As the song progresses there is a sense of foreboding, the kind that occurs when someone suspects that they are in close proximity with an ominous presence. "Darkness" is another spooky tune that appears to be written about an encounter with a succubus.
The acoustic passages and distinct tempo changes on songs like "Wolf Song" and "Darkness" are reminiscient of the Sabotage era, when Black Sabbath started becoming more progressive. While the guitarists use a lot of mid-range voicings, Worshipper also employs a tube-heavy bottom end as part of their sound. Bob Maloney's basslines shine through especially on songs like the aforementioned "Wolf Song".
The album closer is "Black Corridor", which is definitely one of their strongest songs. The punishing drum style of Dave Jarvis is clearly evident on this track, driving hard on the toms and rolling along at a thunderous pace. Word on the street is that he has been known to kick his foot through bass drum heads during their live shows.
Lest I forget, I must give a shout out to studio wizard Benny Grotto, who engineered and produced the album. Musicians travel from around the world to record in Boston with this fellow for a reason. The sound is tight, expansive, and ethereal.
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| Worshipper live at the 2016 Rock and Roll Rumble |
