Cough
Still They Pray
(Relapse Records)
Richmond, VA has become quite the fertile land for doom of late, with Cough and Windhand emerging with huge riffs and interesting atmospheres. Cough have always been more in line with Electric Wizard, preferring a plodding form of punishment. Their first album in over five years, Still They Pray, sees more of the same, with some slight tinkering here and there. The question is this: does the band’s brand of doom stand out, or is it little more than a passable slow and steady doom record?
Unfortunately, it’s the latter. Still They Pray is definitely a grower, as the band’s use of subtle melody and ability to craft psychedelic atmospheres almost subconsciously is a winning formula. “Possession” feels like a one note song, but the added layers and haunting vocals keep the song mostly adrift. The problem is that it shouldn’t be a ten minute-plus song, and about halfway through, it’s clear that the song has lost momentum. That’s really the biggest problem with this record. For those looking for dark, harrowing doom, Cough are near experts at that, at least for short bursts. When it comes to execution is where it all falls a bit flat. Nothing on the album is outright awful, but the overly extended tracks weigh down what could otherwise be effective songs. There’s not much else to write home about here. If you need a new dose of Dopethrone-esque doom, this fits the bill, but it’s not enough to maintain interest throughout the unfortunately boring album.
Purchase Still They Pray here.
