REVIEW: Grief Prison launch debut single 'Sadist in Denial'

From the murky underground depths Grief Prison has arisen, a gloomy, sludgy doom project with their first single hot off the press. Sadist in Denial is accompanied by a dark, retro-styled music video with a dystopian feel to match the pissed-off lyrical themes and cement the clear aesthetic of the band very quickly.

Sonically, there's lots of 90s doom lurking in the music - the melodic chord sequences and Ian's soulful baritone vocals hark back to Type O Negative, though overall it's a bit grittier, with a hint or two of Crowbar and Acid Bath rather than the gothic undertones Type O are known for. The lyrics embody a clear sense of bitterness and inner pain which, again, the video really complements well.

Sadist in Denial - music video

There are some nice details in the songwriting that elevate it just a bit more, such as the ugly mid-section where the vocals develop into a powerful bellow, or the build up in intensity towards the end as the song name is roared over and over. Certainly, there are a few things about 'Sadist in Denial' that can go over your head on a casual listen but it's a track worth returning to. 

Sadist in Denial is a promising start for the London/Birmingham act, with the album And So We Carry On promised soon, perhaps for release next year. If you're after something that sounds fresh and a little bit different in the way it combines influences from the doom and sludge genre's overlords, look no further.

MN

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