Following on the heels of their recent cassette releases, 2020’s 2 ep compilation on The Weird Beard, and their split release with Forest Mourning on Infinity Mirror, Smote is back with their first Vinyl release and a return to The Weird Beard. Smote is the solo project of Newcastle upon Tyne’s Daniel Foggin and can best be described as some sort of melding of medieval folk, and progressive drone rock. Deep hypnotic basslines are layered with the flute, oscillating organs, and electronics to create a dense layering of both modern and distant influences. “Psoltice” kicks things off with its funky bass groove and driving drum beat layered with various electronics and a touch of Wah-wah guitar and subtle vocal chants enhanced with a good amount of flute. “Fohrt” follows with a much more emphasis on the sitar sounds combined with the flute and a more deliberate drum pattern. Track 3 “Moninna” slows things down quite a bit and for some reason conjures up, in my head, The End by The Doors and all I can picture is Captain Willard making his way upriver. “Motte” picks up where “Moninna” left off and adds the touch of the vocal chants to create an eerie atmosphere that eventually picks up volume and force with some guitar work. Bodkin closes out with the title track. Much more experimental in nature, Bodkin takes a deeper dive into the drone aspects of the LP with its glacial beat, distorted guitar, and higher-pitched wailing of some unidentifiable instrument. definitely a release worth checking out as it really does have its own unique sound and flow.
.Release date: March 12th no preorders on The Weird Beard
