01. Imperii Exsules (Galacatic Viatores)
02. Hybrid Genus Serpentis
03. Mater Saeva Kp22
04. Torquemada 71
Don Cole (Guitar)
Dennis Reid (Drums)
Tommy Stewart (Vocals/Bass)
Negative Wall formed in 2018 as a trio from different bands. Don Cole (Blacklight Midnight), Dennis Reid (Bludy Gyres, Tommy Stewart’s Dyerwulf, Blacklight Midnight) and Tommy Stewart (Hallows Eve, Bludy Gyres, Tommy Stewart’s Dyerwulf). After only seven writing rehearsals Negative Wall enters the studio and records Gammagelu, latin for the frost of gamma, in only seven more days.
Gammagelu is sci-fi themed so the three songs lyrics lean towards that description. Imperii Excules (Exiled Imperials) is inspired by an Outer Limits episode about The Zanti Misfits. The next track is a bizarre story called Hybrid Genus Serpentis about a reptilian being who forces sex with a space traveler who then gives birth to a being that encases him in a capsule that opens when he is the only living creature left in the universe. The third track is an old Irish folk song turned into a doom-blues snapshot called Et Mater Saeva (The Cruel Mother) and concerns matricide, planet KP22 as the setting. The last song is an Electric Wizard cover of Torquemada 71 (From 2007 Witchcult Today), while not sci-fi, it stylistically fits and simply a band favorite.
We begin with 'Imperii Exsules (Galacatic Viatores)', this is pure doom perfection! Solid slow pounding drums back the guitar and bass working in dark harmony. Talking of harmony the vocals are sublime.
Two thirds into the song and all goes quiet, then this descends into a slow almost psychedelic section held together with some great bass playing.
'Hybrid Genus Serpentis' sticks with that early proto doom meets psych feel and offers up a masterclass of how it should be done, if it had synthesizer and saxophone it could almost be an early Hawkwind track.
The blues influence really comes through on 'Mater Saeva Kp22' but then thanks to a raga like rhythm from the drum and percussion it bears the mark of late 1960's artists such as 'Clarke-Hutchinson'.
Some near demonic effects on the vocals evoke early occult rock and the Doom is boosted by some furious guitar work.
Finally they take on Electric Wizard's 'Torquemada 71' and make it fit perfectly to end this great record!
Rating 9/10
For Fans Of: Cathedral, Electric Wizard, Reverend Bizarre, Moss, Monster Magnet, Witchcraft
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