CRYSTAL SPIDERS - Metanoia
Ripple Music
OK bias alert because this is a local band from where I live here in Raleigh, North Carolina. With that said I figured that CRYSTAL SPIDERS' debut full length, Molt from 2020, would register with Doom fans. I mean here's a female fronted Doom Metal band that was not playing in the cliche ways of the modern genre. So yeah in my not so humble opinion their debut album was damm good. They were doing their own thing which is cool.
Unfortunatly I thought their second album, Morieris from 2021, was not as good. I mean it sounded decent but one would expect more then just going through the motions in my not so humble opinion. Seriously this band has the talent so show it. I expected their second album to be an explosion of cool fuckin Doom. Which brings us to this the band's third album and there are some changes on here which really show the band's potential for greatness. The third time is the charm
There have always been two things about CRYSTAL SPIDERS which are the stand outs to me. You've got the iconic vocals by Brenna Leath who also plays bass. And guitarist Reid Rogers who's a devote' of Tony Iomni. Starting with Brenna Leath, on this release she's over the top with high end bluesy screams / vocals. Just listen to the album's opener "Torche". That's a force to be recognized.
Brenna Leath's vocal performance throughout this album is sultry, damm cool bluesy and at times very powerful. Which is why this female fronted Doom Metal band is not cliche like all of the WINDHAND imatators in the past decade. Next it's guitarist Reid Rogers time to spotlight. Yes he know's the Tony Iomni style, he's all into the SABBATH - ian riff /groove. But he's more like a modern interpreter of that sound as opposed to a 70's ers copycat.
The bottom line is that Reid Rogers is a great songwriter, riff master and an amazing lead guitarist. Now if you're gonna be SABBATH - ian then you need a drummer who's schooled in Hard Rock and Jazz style. This band has one in Aaron Willis. This guy is just amazing with his steady attack. I mean check out "21" which is a full blown attack on the kit combining with the guitar/bass and vocal barrage. Throughout this album Aaron Willis is in a cool attack with the guitars and bass.
In the end yeah I'm bias. But hey I already had a favorite Doom Metal album which was a favorite set in stone. CRYSTAL SPIDERS' third full length shattered that one to pieces. Years ago I said this was a Doom Metal band to check out. Here we are now with their third album and CRYSTAL SPIDERS are on top as far as great US Doom is concerned. Yeah this is one of the best Doom releases of 2025.
LISTEN HERE:
https://crystalspiders.bandcamp.com/album/metanoia
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