Megasus

These guys have a drummer famous for being in a noise rock band, a hardcore-styled vocalist and a pair of songs in Guitar Hero 2 and Rock Band. Clearly, these guys are just ironic hipster doom bullshit.

Right.

The truth is, the guys at Harmonix actually know their metal; these guys are for real, and not just making this to be ironic. These are the same guys who chose to give players Screaming For Vengeance over British Steel and Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? instead of Countdown To Extinction. The Rock Band roster also includes bands from Iron Maiden to Abnormality, a local brutal death metal band who no one has heard of (but is still pretty cool).

And it doesn’t hurt that they know how to write some pretty cool and unique doom metal. Since that’s what we’re here for now, let’s get to that now. This album is purely a self-release, making the primary way to obtain it a digital download. However, they did manage to find a company willing to press 200 copies of the album on vinyl for the enthusiasts out there. Honestly, this limited release is a bit surprising, considering how many people play the games that featured songs by them. Then again, “Red Lottery” was in the running for “most disliked song in Guitar Hero 2” for its comparatively slow pace. So what we have, then, is an obscure release by a band that should actually be well-known. It’s a shame because, again, this is actually some good material.

If I were to compare Megasus’s sound to other bands, I’d call it a cross between High On Fire, Pentagram, and Witch. It’s doom metal, but it’s not afraid to venture into faster tempos. It also has a heavy layer of psychedelic influence, with rather sludgy guitars and mildly distorted vocals. It’s a bit short as far as doom albums go, not even breaking the 40 minute mark, but it’s a satisfying listen while it lasts. The production reminds me of High On Fire’s Surrounded By Thieves, with the guitars being quite muddy and the drums packing quite the punch.

The main problem with this album is the inconsistency. There are songs that are downright awesome, but also a couple that wind up a bit dull. Oddly enough, the strongest songs are also the fastest ones. “Red Lottery” is probably the best of the slower tracks, and in spite of what I said earlier about it being maligned in Guitar Hero 2, it is actually a very competent song. The problem was just that it is very slow, and thus not much fun to play on a fake plastic guitar. On the other hand, “Megasus” is available for download in Rock Band. If you’re going to name a song after your band on your self-titled album, you better make it count: Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden are two bands to have done so, and they seemed to have done pretty well for themselves. Fortunately, Megasus does not slouch either, and the eponymous track is likewise one of their best. The vocalist and drummer both inject the song with an absolutely frenetic energy, helping the song rage along like the nightmarish monster the lyrics speak of. “Paladin Vs. Berserker” is another incredibly strong song, starting off by showcasing the incredibly heavy guitar tone. The drumming is also reminiscent of High On Fire’s Des Kensel, with lots of emphasis on the toms and fills all over the place. His main band may be a noise rock group, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t learn to play the instrument!

But then there are songs like “Swords” and “Iron Mountain” that aren’t bad, but they just feel a bit aimless. There are plenty of good riffs that feel like they’re going to go somewhere… but then they don’t. They build to a climax that doesn’t come, and then the song eventually ends. I wonder if it is a coincidence that these are the longest songs on the album? They don’t feel overlong, but they lack a sense of accomplishment. Meanwhile, songs like “Ten Kingdoms” and “Hexes/Szaadek” seem to have no problems in terms of progression, leaving me even more confused.

Overall, this is definitely a band worth checking out if you enjoy bands like High On Fire or Witch, mixing in a bit of extra speed and aggression in with solid, riffy doom metal. It’s a little too inconsistent of an album to be considered a masterpiece, but the stronger tracks show that this little band has potential for greatness.