By Aniruddh ‘Andrew’ Bansal
Bangalore-based stoner doom metal band Bevar Sea released their self-titled debut full-length album in India last October. The four tracks on this 43-minute effort were already popular amongst fans long before the actual release. The band has been performing these tunes for a while now, but there was still a huge amount of excitement and hype surrounding the release. People were anxiously waiting to get their hands on an official Bevar Sea studio recording, not just for the music but also for guitarist Rahul Chacko a.k.a. Scribble Bandit’s incredible artwork. Having seen live thrice last year, each time in a different size of stage and venue, I was curious to hear how a Bevar Sea recording sounds in comparison to what they play on stage.
I got the mp3 version right around the time it was released in late October, and I was listening to this album quite regularly after that but I wasn’t able to find time to write a proper review. And that applied to all music, not just the Bevar Sea album. Anyhow, now that I’m finally in an active writing phase again, I’ve decided to review it because even though this album is not no ‘new’ for the Indian metal fraternity, it didn’t get any international release so I thought I should still do a detailed review for stoner/doom fans outside India who aren’t so familiar with the band.
‘The Smiler’ is the first of four tracks. This is the kind of album wherein slowness of tempo is a very desirable trait, and The Smiler sets that mood perfectly. The guitar riffs are smooth and heavy, and it doesn’t take long for the listener to be completely hooked to the tune. Srikanth Panaman and Rahul Chacko combine really well, and their guitar parts are excellently crafted and arranged. Avinash’s bass lines have a fond resemblance to Black Sabbath’s ‘Heaven And Hell’, which is never a bad thing. Ganesh’s gruff vocals lend a dark, ominous vibe to the music, and overall, this tune is the ideal starter for this doomilicious meal.
The ever-amazing ‘Abishtu’ retains The Smiler’s qualities and builds further on it. This is a heavier tune, but at the same time its guitar parts are certainly more melodic and have a psychedelic tinge to them, which is a nice variation. Of course, the lyrics and the chorus are a lot catchier, making this the most popular song on the album. The beauty of the twin guitar harmonies is the most striking feature for me though, and I’d keep listening to ‘Abishtu’ repeatedly just for that, more than anything else.
‘Universal Sleeper’, on the other side of the spectrum, is the liveliest and fastest song and takes the album to a more conventional stoner vibe. This one is a true head-banger’s delight, and the riffs catch on almost instantly amongst listeners. Ganesh gets to do more on this song as well, and his vocal delivery is absolutely killer. Because of the faster tempo, drummer Deepak Raghu is also allowed a greater scope to display his talents, and this tireless, omnipresent musician does a fantastic job.
The main course of this treat has been reserved for the end with the 17-minute long ‘Mono Gnome’, which aptly engulfs all the elements that decorate the first three tracks, and then some. Its constantly changing patterns keep the tune interesting throughout despite the length. This is 17 minutes of sheer musical brilliance that should be appreciated by any music lover, not just the stoner/doom fans. There’s way too much going on here to be described suitably in words, so as far as ‘Mono Gnome’ goes, it’s meant purely for the listener, not for the reviewer.
The album has been mixed and mastered by Billy Anderson. The man has worked with the who’s who of stoner metal, but it’s hard for me to say whether he really brought out the best of the Bevar Sea sound, because this is the band’s debut album and I’m yet to hear them mix and master an album by themselves or through somebody other than Billy Anderson. There’s simply no frame of reference. But compared to how the band sounds on stage, I certainly think they’ve captured the same feeling on the album as well. The sound is very organic, and the best part about it is, it’s not raw or rough like stoner doom albums often can be, and the purity and smoothness of the album makes it worth listening to over and over again.
All in all, Bevar Sea’s self-titled debut is the classiest album ever released by an Indian metal band, and it deserves to be heard, purchased and savored by metalheads all over the world.
Rating: 10/10
Record Label: Iron Fist (India)
Release Date: October 2012 (India)
Track Listing:
1. The Smiler
2. Abishtu
3. Universal Sleeper
4. Mono Gnome
Links:
store.bevarsea.com
facebook.com/bevarsea
twitter.com/bevarsea
youtube.com/user/BevarSea