Green Lung – This Heathen Land
Green Lung – This Heathen Land
Nuclear Blast Records
Release date: 03/11/2023
Running time: 43:00
Review by: Alun Jones
9.75/10
Halloween ain’t over yet, kids – at least not while the arch druids of Occult Rock, Green Lung, are back in town! Yes, London’s finest purveyors of witchy, stoner incantations have a new album, “This Heathen Land” – released by Nuclear Blast Records, no less. So gather ye round, my acolytes, while we indulge in the ritual listening of this opus. Light some candles, burn some incense, imbibe potions of mind-expanding merriment. And take all your clothes off!
Album number three from Green Lung kicks off with a suitably 1970s intro, setting the magickal vibe right away. ‘The Forest Church’ is the first track proper, which takes its inspiration from Danzig-approved cult folk horror classic “The Blood on Satan’s Claw”. It’s a riffalicious chunk of doomy wonder, built around an organ drenched, moody base.
‘Mountain Throne’ blasts out as a Sabbath style rocker, awash with those lush, skronky keyboards. Then GL add some sauce to their sorcery with their ode to ‘Maxine (Witch Queen)’, an ecstatically catchy slice of psychedelic, garage rock-infused debauchery. ‘The Ancient Ways’ and ‘Hunters in the Sky’ are both powerful yet groovy rock that’s reminiscent of the greats and gleefully conjures up its own aura.
Green Lung really stretch themselves on ‘One for Sorrow’, which features huge, doom riffs and atmospheric synths with an epic chorus. The mellow, folky sound of ‘Song of the Stones’ adds yet more colour to the palette, and still sounds essential – just like those more refined tracks on early Black Sabbath records. The melodic, drama infused ‘Oceans of Time’ – inspired by Coppola’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” – adds a suitably bombastic and ambitious climax to the album.
A word of wisdom for the initiate: the vinyl version of “This Heathen Land” shows exactly why physical media is still so important and potent. My copy is green vinyl, in a gatefold sleeve with a lyric booklet and a map of the UK, showing various otherworldly sites that have inspired the album. This obsessive attention to detail is fascinating and illustrates just how much care and attention has been poured into the whole work!
Green Lung are completely fearless, their ability to rise to the challenge and create art this meticulous is highly impressive. And I should know, I’ve seen The Wicker Man and I own a black cat. Seriously, my children: “This Heathen Land” is essential.
You can put your clothes back on now.
TRACKLISTING
01. The Forest Church Intro
02. The Forest Church
03. Mountain Throne
04. Maxine
05. One For Sorrow
07. Song Of The Stones
08. The Ancient Ways
09. Hunters In The Sky
10. Oceans Of Time
LINE-UP
Tom Templar – vocals
Scott Black – guitar
Joseph Ghast – bass
Matt Wiseman – drums
John Wright – organ
LINKS
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Alun Jones and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
