I always like the albums that come out of nowhere and draw you in. This is exactly one of those as Heretkau hurl a monumental slab of instrumental doomy sludge from the depths of Modena in Italy. There are times when a riff salad is just what is required, and their debut release ‘Amentit’ has all the ingredients.
I can find out very little about this band and they seem to want to give nothing away – bar a photograph of three guys, one wearing shorts. Even the five tracks on ‘Amentit’ are just given numbers. However, I like the slight mystery as they unleash a holistic barrage of hefty riffing, cataclysmic bass thumps and a drummer who thinks a ‘wallop’ is a gentle pat on the wrist.
There is the sludgy, stoner feel of Bongripper mixed in with the more post sound of bands like The Grey; yet Heretkau successfully weave a warmth and a colour through this release that allows the entirety to sit, quite comfortably, and without bothering anyone, in your head. This is, certainly for me, music that almost becomes another limb as you go about whatever it is you are doing. It has purpose, it has a tangible presence.
Produced to a high standard, ‘Amentit’ is quite an opening statement, and one that you should probably invest 39 minutes of your life in. I can see these guys growing and, as part of quite a niche scene, learning to make some of the very best salads.
Best Paired With: A Fine Beard, Falling in love just as the sky collapses, and a single malt whisky.
Reviewed by Jaff.
Amentit by Heretkau is out now (Independent)
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