Back to square one, not literally, but figuratively for Brown Jenkins. Due to the roster policy and filtering of Moribund Cult, you can guarantee an overwhelming sense of malign negativity, and Angel Eyes reeks of it.

The latest album from the one man show Brown Jenkins is a slow and angry creature. Lurching along between a crawl and mid pace, the tempo itself is almost a challenge. Hardened fans of the drone, doom and black arena will however have a feast of evil haze to wade through. As opposed to a collective opus or concept album, Angel Eyes is an amalgamation of individual songs each containing their own unhinged and tempestuous journeys.

Every riff emanates menace and malevolence and the progression is sublime whilst everything remains basic, raw and elemental. The mighty vocal roar is to be feared and the accumulating bite and aggressive groove of say Mastodon or High On Fire coupled with a distinct evil raise their heads during the fantastic pace changes on tracks like “Black Procession” and “Joy In Darkness.”

The piston engine drums of eighties metal outfits like Bathory and Hellhammer are recalled on Angel Eyes, and the guitars are jarring and abrasive but always compelling and infuriatingly addictive. The ideals of the “old school” here have been successfully extrapolated to a 21st century context.

BJ has managed to construct its filth without bottleneck effect and overcrowding of sounds which is refreshing. To crush is not merely to keep adding noises to each other! Memorable and palpable despite how harsh and surreal Angel Eyes may be, it is destined for acclaim and success. The final track says it all; this album is a “Joy in Darkness.”

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