Review : BISON B.C. – “Dark Ages”

Bison B.C. – Dark Ages
released April 13, 2010 on Metal Blade Records

Rating : 4.5/5

High on Fire‘s influence on the metal scene lately appears to be really taking hold. Their blend of thrash, stoner, and sludge metal hasn’t quite worked itself into existing band’s sounds, but it appears as though a new generation of groups adopting this concept are coming along. Lair of the Minotaur already released a new album earlier this year, and now Bison B.C. have come along with an album that may usher more of this style. We’ll see.

The core of the band’s sound is crushing, sludgy riffs, charging rhythms, and loud barks akin to early Mastodon. In fact, there are many musical references to Leviathan present throughout the album, from the pounding drums to the transposed guitar harmonies to the ever-shifting song structures. Their name also channels the same preshistoric feel of Mastodon‘s moniker.

Bison B.C. aren’t really doing anything totally original or their own, but they manage to execute the sound of their forefathers quite well. Brent Hinds (Mastodon) and Matt Pike (Sleep, High on Fire) would certainly dig this album, as would Scott Kelly (Neurosis), whose signature howls are channeled occasionally by vocalist Dan And. Those are some big names, but luckily Bison manages to make the whole ring much stronger than simply the sum of its parts.

FCC: 3, 5
Try 1, 2, 4, 7

01. Stressed Elephant
02. Fear Cave
03. Melody, This is For You
04. Two-Day Booze
05. Die of Devotion
06. Take the Next Exit
07. Wendigo Pt. 3 (Let Him Burn)