Single Review: Malady

Established as a bold, creative adventure with the goal of creating a record from scratch, from the opposite end of the world and all within one year, is a brave statement, let alone something to follow through with. Radically, it seems to be working if Domes’ debut single, Malady is anything to go by.

If Malady was a feeling, it would be that dizzying heightened sense of awareness as your equilibrium becomes unbalanced and moves back into focus. You’re glad to be back down to earth because that was one hell of a ride.

With thick, sludgy bass riffs straight off the bat, within the first minute you might assume you know where this is headed. Well, that stops here.

With a metal core steeped with rumbly stoner riffs and topped off with post hardcore and melodic vocals, this isn’t just the band’s debut single, it’s an intentional piece artlaced with so much detail that if you blink too often, you’re likely to miss all the good stuff.

With so many changes in tempo, it’s easy to hear the vast spread of experience that vocalist and guitarist, Matthew Bosher and bassist Brendon Kahi (both previously of Decortica fame), along with drummer Dan Bosher bring to the table, following the devastatingly good peaks and troughs of intensity with some fantastic harmony. It’s frantic, but never rushed, and while there are so many contrasting styles that could almost sound too busy, everything has its place. In this instance you can have you cake and eat it too.

The fact that this track was recorded on a 1939 heritage vessel moored on the River Thames in London and mastered at the iconic Abbey Road Studios just adds to the sense of excitement in Domes musical journey, and I can’t wait to hear what else is in store.