When the first song is named "Irina Karlstein" after a vampire countess from the 1973 film 'La comtesse noire', then you already know what to expect in the next half hour. Old school Psychedelic Occult Doom!
The doomsters Astral Pigs From Chañar Ladeado, in the South of Santa Fe / Argentina, founded in 2015, have signed with DHU Records and deliver 5 songs that I would recommend to any fanatic of bands like Wizard Master, The Devils Blood, Wicca333, Black Spell, Electric Wizard and Mephistofeles.
But back to Comtesse Irina Karlstein. The instrumental song starts off trippy psychedelic with mantra-like guitars and keeps building Up, becoming more doomy and reminiscent a bit of OM. The perfect introduction to the following song "Our Golden Twilight".
After a few seconds, massive stoner-doom riffs and heavy drums burst down to the listener, who was just reveling in the psychedelic spheres of the first song.
Bruno Angelino's Clear sung vocals give the songs a special touch. The refrain burns directly into the eardrums. First 'f*ck yeah' moment of the album!
"Slow down in my deepest sewer" is the lyrics to the next song (Brass Skies / Funeral March) and it fits like a glove. A creepy gravedigger's gloves on a rainy foggy morning. Low & Slow Doom, dripping and fuzzy. Instead, there are the vocals again, which give the song a very cool 70s feeling. On "The Sigil" bassist Fabrizio Pieroni picks up the Hammond. Dark, psychedelic and yet like a silver lining. Then after a while, the acoustic guitar kicks in and the song takes a surprising turn. Quieter, a bit western style, slightly progressive and psychedelic.
The song shows how versatile the band is and not just another Occult Doom band playing their stuff. The moment when you think the album can't get any better, but then "Dragonflies" starts.
Early Electric Wizard riffing tear you out of the acoustic part and drag you unstoppably into a deep endless fuzz-laden doom void. Once again it's very heavy, slow and very deep down to the point. After a little over 25 minutes the fun is over and you want to put the needle back to the first song.
Astral Pigs did everything right on "Our Golden Twilight". The "old school" at the beginning should not be misunderstood here, there is no odd Doom with cobwebs and a layer of dust - the songs sound timeless, sometimes surprise and grip at first listen.
Astral Pigs are:
Pedro Petracco † Guitars
Bruno Angelino † Vocals
Fabricio Pieroni † Bass
Catu Pellis † Drums
-Helge Neumann
