Wall of Sleep Album Trilogy Part 1 of 3

Guest Writer: Ben Shaw

I have been to the top of vast mountain ranges. I have been to space. I have travelled across expanses of desert and galloped through medieval Hungary atop of a great mammoth.  I have even seen a wizard control the winds and seas. These wild claims will leave you with a conclusion to draw about my honesty and possibly my mental health. However, when you finish reading this article and seek out the cause of my delusions, then you too will sail to the riff-filled land where images of fantasy and glorious adventure are conjured. I bring you Hungarian Doomanoids, Wall of Sleep.

Wall of Sleep formed in Hungary in 2002 (or 2001 depending on your online source) and released their first EP in 2003; the raw and promising Overlook The All. The recording borrowed heavily from the gods of groovy doom heavy-metal and included a cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘The Wizard’. Between 2004 and 2007, Wall of Sleep released Slow, But Not Dead, Sun Faced Apostles and then ...And Hell Followed With Him – capturing a trilogy of dream inspiring rock music on disc. This three-part article, this act of supplication to the divine forces of the riff, will focus on these three albums. 

Despite its title, Slow, But not Dead (2004) isn’t even that slow! It kicks off with the bouncing riffage of ‘Far Away From Sunrise’ which almost feels like a driving song - full of thrust and purpose. Wall of Sleep excel in being able to straddle genres and styles within a single song, let alone an entire album. This is what I love most about them, as I mentioned earlier, I’ve been to a myriad of imagined landscapes thanks to their varying feel and mood.  True to form, the album takes an immediate change in direction on second track ‘Sysyphus’ Downhill Ride’ which lopes and swings like the arms of a drunken ape. This is the first time we hear hints at the majestic harmonies so prevalent in Wall of Sleep’s sound.

Third track ‘That’s Why’ is almost Soundgarden-esque in its chaotic rhythms.  It’s with the track ‘Soil’ that Wall of Sleep hit their straps and begin to spread their wings. The vocal harmonies of the intro pave the way to a huge poppy chorus that is so addictive, after one listen you’re picking through carpet fluff for signs of more.  ‘The Very Same’ bounces out of the speakers like Volume 4 era Sabbath,  which is followed by a brief interlude of country refrains from delay addled guitars. ‘Ornaments of Heaven” is a classic doom master piece.  'Inside Garden' is a rocky groover with hints of Skynyrd, testament to the band’s ability to produce heavily influenced music that still sounds unique.  I could write an entire piece about album closer ‘I Sleep’ and the relationship I’ve had with the song since I first saw the YouTube video of it being performed live. 

The opening riff conjures images of beached sea monstrosities being clubbed to death by colossal iron titans in slow motion. When the drums and bass kick in we are taken away from the horror of the monsters and transported to the glory and tragedy of brave men on windswept battles fields. The song ebbs and flows through vistas of depression, victory and eventual flight from the mortal world.

I am, of course, making massive assumptions about the meaning of lyrics but this is precisely where my love of Wall of Sleep stems from. They have the ability to fuel my imagination exponentially. The vocals and the guitars interweaving and the meeting of harmonies reduce me to a child hearing Iron Maiden for first time thinking how are they doing this!?!?. It could be that everyone has a particular harmony that will always ring true for them, it may be that I was incredibly stoned when I heard ‘I Sleep’ which enhanced the experience beyond the reality of the situation. Whatever occurred, it was one of those times when you hear a bit of music and the world seems like it was made for you. And this is only Wall of Sleep’s third best album…

Thanks to Ben and be sure to check out the band at:

 http://www.myspace.com/wallofsleepdoommusic