Goat Major to Release Debut LP Ritual March 8; Title-Track Video Posted
About as dug into the traditions of denim doom as they are modern in their cavernous atmosphere and creeper vibe, Goat Major have the distinction of releasing their debut full-length, titled simply Ritual, as labelmates to The Obsessed, and while I’m not a newcomer trio from the UK trying to carve a place in genre as well as raise awareness of their existence, I’d imagine putting your record out a month after Wino on the same label might feel pretty good. Or you know, it’s doom, so nothing really feels good except when the volume hits.
But while the new single “Evil Eye” stretches north of six minutes, it’s an easy-to-dig push made all the more fluid by the melody that accompanies the dark-hued fuzz. The logo in the album art might have you thinking Electric Wizard, and that’s certainly part of the scope here, but not all of it. The video for “Evil Eye,” accompanied by the prior single “Ritual” at the bottom of this post, is delightfully oldschool in its green-screen presentation of the three-piece, and that’s of course suited to the track as well.
You can read more about the band below — the PR wire diligent as ever — and I’ll note that I looked for the Evil Eye EP on Bandcamp and couldn’t find it otherwise that would be here as well. “Evil Eye,” “Turn to Dust” and “Mountains of Madness” appeared there and will be on the LP as well, as you can see in the blue text:
UK occult doom metallers GOAT MAJOR to release debut album “Ritual” on Ripple Music this March 8th, 2024; watch new “Evil Eye” video now!
Welsh occult doom metal newcomers GOAT MAJOR announce the release of their crushing debut full-length “Ritual” on Ripple Music this March, and unveil their new single “Evil Eye”!
Captivating audiences with their fuzzed-out steamroller sound, devastating riffs, creepy and haunting melodies driven on by aggressive grooves and sophisticated fills, GOAT MAJOR established as a formidably earth-shattering newcomer in the British stoner and doom metal scene.
Following the 2022 release of their debut EP “Evil Eye” alongside numerous club and festival performances in the UK, the trio recently signed to Californian label Ripple Music for the release of their debut album “Ritual” in the late winter of 2024. Soaked in the trio’s infectious brand of sinister occult doom metal, their debut album “Ritual” is inspired by the band’s roots and Celtic traditions, making for and aural experience that is haunting and bone-crushing all at once and will leave you humming the melodies while you pray for forgiveness. Don’t miss their recent video for “Ritual” at this location.
GOAT MAJOR – Debut album “Ritual”
Out March 8th on Ripple Music (vinyl, CD, digital)
International preorder – https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/ritual
US preorder – https://ripplemusic.bigcartel.com/product/goat-major-ritual
TRACKLIST:
1. Snakes (Goddess of the Serpent)
2. Ritual
3. Turn to Dust
4. Light of The End
5. Power That Be
6. Mountains of Madness
7. Evil Eye
8. Lay Me Down
Hailing from Wales, the land of ancient monuments and Celtic traditions, GOAT MAJOR is an occult doom band formed during the harsh lockdown of a global pandemic by longtime friends Jammie Arnold (guitar), Simon Bonwick (drums) and Tom Shortt (bass/vocals). All three members grew up within half a mile of each other in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in the shadow of the town’s medieval castle.
The power trio worked hard crafting songs of catchy sinister occult doom metal, all while escaping the brutality that was cast upon the world. As restrictions started to lift, GOAT MAJOR began playing shows as an instrumental band before Shortt decided to take up the vocal duties. The band continued fine-tuning their songs with regular shows around the south/west of Wales and further afield in England. The band consequently started playing higher profile shows around the UK, sharing the stage with the likes of Thunder Horse, Wytch Hazel, Sigiriya, Parish, OHHMS, Made Of Teeth, Inhuman Nature. They also performed at Swansea Fringe festival and headlined Rock the Gwasbah festival in West Wales. GOAT MAJOR recently signed to US reference stoner, doom and heavy rock label Ripple Music for the release of their debut album “Ritual” in March 2024.
GOAT MAJOR is
Jammie Arnold – guitar
Simon Bonwick – drums
Tom Shortt – bass & vocals
https://www.facebook.com/goatmajorband
https://www.instagram.com/goatmajorband/
https://www.youtube.com/@goatmajor
