Ramesses - We Will Lead You to Glorious Times ( EP ) 2005

"Sub zero,echo drone.." "We Will Lead You to Glorious Times"  is the first EP released by Ramesses,the Dorset,UK based doom trio.I first checked them because of their close relation with UK stoner/doom legends, Electric Wizard, as the founding bassist,Tim Bagshaw, and the beast behind the drumkit,Mark Greening, went on to form Ramesses soon after their departure from Electric Wizard back in 2003.Tim took up the guitars and Adam Richardson,member of Lord of Putrefaction,the first incarnation of Electric Wizard,handled the vocal and bass duties.Unlike their previous band,now they're producing a more dark hybrid of DOOM,based on their influences,mixing it with blackened sludge elements and death growls as well.
The first track I ever heard of this particular album and band in general,is "Witchampton",which I consider being one of the greatest tracks ever composed.It opens with a clean,haunting guitar,which travels you back in time when castles,witches and sorcery existed.As soon as the drums kick in it gradually evolves into a masterpiece of doom/death.The vocals are simply awesome,consisting only of growls that help the listener to capture and understand the full meaning and feeling of the lyrics,which are astonishing as well."Holy life,hollow bones.Sightless eyes..overthrown. Only life perished smiles.." At about the sixth minute of the track,everything slows down and here comes the best part,an absolutely torturous DOOM passage that continues until the song ends.A dark,sorrowful melody accompanied by one of Adam's best vocal perfomances.."Two drops for eternity.."Up next is "Master your Demons".The opening riff is nothing but a typical doomy riff,like those used constantly by EW.Around the one and a half minute comes the best part of the song,mixing a simply beautiful melody with a blast beat in a black metal way ,until the third minute when the opening riff reappears and it continues like this,fading out 'til the end.
"Ramesses II" is the third song and it's damn heavy!Starts off with a weird drum-beat followed by a sludgy doom riff that forces to bang your fuckin' head.A solid composition,like the rest of the tracks, in which Adam's vocals shine once again as well as Mark's drumwork.
Last but no least.."Black Domina",and how could it be with a title like this,huh?Just like the opening track it breaks in with a clean guitar riff,but in that case it is a more gentle riff,more melodic.It is a long,epic closure of a magnificent album,which is strongly diffused by the feeling of jamming.Around the sixth minute comes,like in the first track, a moment of total doom,accompanied by some leads and of course Adam's growls!
All in all, as a whole it is a great release,worth hearing and buying,if possible,but since it is sold out you can always use this link(Mediafire download) for at least downloading it.Support the band and get yourself informed here:Metallum page or Official site.