First off, let’s get this straight. Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran is one of the most metal album titles you’ll see this year. Dire warnings, demonology, striking statements? This is the good stuff and this is why I rushed to hear Lowen‘s new album on hearing of it. I didn’t know anything about it other than it was doomy, proggy, and had amazing album art. That was enough for me. Sometimes, you’ve got to just hope you can judge a book by its cover.
In many respects, the art and title is a very good guide on what to expect with Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran. Lowen have opted for a style of progressive doom that is at once brash and intricate, and they lean into the Middle Eastern influences. Fans of their debut, A Crypt in the Stars (I did do some research) will find Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran a far less contemplative, far more right for the throat affair. As such someone new to both, I find myself ambivalent. There are moments, like “Najang Bah Divhayeh Mazandaran”, where vocalist Nina Saeidi just goes for it in a way which, in conjunction with session drummer Cal Constantine‘s shifting rhythm, sounds absolutely powerhouse. There’s no other way to put it. Saeidi and guitarist Shem Lucas‘ Middle Eastern inflected melodies trade the spotlight on that track to great effect. When Lowen stray from the big melody route however, they lose my interest a little. Tracks like “Corruption on Earth” and “The Seed That Dreamed Of Its Own Creation” sometimes go on too long for me. I wish too for more moments like the acoustic beginning to “May Your Ghost Drink Pure Water”, a small and beautiful interlude in its own right that also really accentuates the crushing nature of the riffs to come.
Right now, Lowen are a band that can succeed writing music in many ways, and it’s up to them what they like and up to the listener whether that works for them. I would very much like to see Lowen use all of their tricks to create a more varied soundscape that hits all the harder for it when they come heavy, but that’s my personal taste. Lowen have done what they’ve set out to do and everyone who loves an all out assault of big riffs and big voices should skip warring with the demons of Mazandaran in favor of listen to Lowen instead.
