BRUME — Rooster (review)

BRUME — Rooster album cover Album · 2017 · Doom Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
adg211288
Formed in 2014 after English guitarist Jamie McCathie relocated to the US, leaving his previous band, the sludge metal act Gurt behind, he met vocalist/bassist Susie McMullan and the two soon began making music, joined by drummer Jordan Perkins-Lewis. The band's only prior release is the EP Donkey (2015), making Rooster (2017) the trio's debut studio album.

There's a certain familiarity to Brume's music as soon as the opening track Grit and Pearls kicks into gear which is likely due to the prominence of other female fronted doom metal groups such as Avatarium, Jex Thoth and Blood Ceremony in recent years, but Brume distance themselves from these bands somewhat by lacking any overt psychedelic element. Instead they rely on down to earth, non-flashy doom metal riffs from Jamie McCathie's guitar and Susie McMullan's subtly brilliant and haunting vocal style. Their riffs are slow and pondering, slightly fuzzy and definitely designed to be crushing. The production doesn't make the album sound as massively heavy as some doom metal can be, but it works out just right for McMullan's soft and melodic voice, with Rooster ultimately coming across as a subdued and sombre album.

Rooster has a charm that proves to be infectious though. With the exception of the non-metal Welter the band write fairly long tracks but there's never an issue where a composition outstays its welcome. In fact Brume certainly display a knack for the longer track. Welter, not even reaching three minutes, is an interesting change a pace though. For me its Grit and Pearls, Reckon, and the closing Tradewind that stand out the most, but the fifty minute release is satisfying from start to finish. While I can't say that the album does too much to stand out within the doom metal genre as a whole, if you enjoy the style with a female voice then Rooster is a very nice release to add to your collection.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
666sharon666 wrote:
more than 2 years ago
This one sounds right up my street.
Nightfly wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Not heard it Adam but I'll give it a listen and get back to you.
adg211288 wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I had a feeling you'd enjoy this one Paul. Moving away from the female fronted doom bands I'd be interested to know what you think of Saturndust's latest album RLC. I reviewed it a while back and its currently my highest rated doom album of the year.

http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/album/saturndust/rlc

Nightfly wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I've just been giving this a listen and was very impressed.

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Repulsive Forms Sludge Metal
UMA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Voidkind Sludge Metal
DVNE
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Road to Oblivion Progressive Metal
DYSCORDIA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Legacy of Morfuidra Power Metal
COVENTHRALL
Buy this album from MMA partners
Oneironautics Power Metal
MAD HATTER
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us