Every band reaches their peak at some point. Some blow their wads right out of the gate and spend the rest of their careers desperately trying to recreate an inexplicable combination of luck, talent, and inspiration. Some clumsily struggle through multiple albums worth of missteps before finally finding their collective voice. Others allow you to tag along on their journey from a promising beginning through an exciting period of growth, to the creation of their definitive album. Bison b.c. now fit firmly in this final category.
Lovelessness is the third Metal Blade release from Bison b.c. and their fourth overall. With each album, they have combined Sludge with elements of Thrash and Classic Metal with increasingly epic results. But, with Lovelessness, it appears that they had simply been barreling up through a narrow passageway and have finally burst through the ceiling, revealing the boundless possibilities of their unique sound.
First off, everything about this album is huge. The riffs are huge, the songs are huge (the longest clocks in at 10:45) and, most importantly, the progression of the band’s sound is huge. It has been said that James Farwell (guitar/vocals) had been through a difficult period in his life before this album was written and it seems almost impossible to not feel the catharsis that drives every song on Lovelessness. Singling out any one track would do this album a great disservice as each song fits like an important part of a collective celebration of life, death, and the unavoidable struggle that connects the two.
All bloviating aside, it is important to also point out that this album is fucking heavy. The band’s original drummer bowed out in 2011 and his replacement, Matt Wood, has brought a solid drum style that forces these songs to stomp their way from beginning to end. However, once again, the dual guitar work of Farwell and Dan And is really what transforms these songs into virtual skull-crushing monsters. As introspective as this album is, it is impossible to forget that it is truly metal at its core.
Lovelessness is easily my favorite album of 2012 and should be the one that places Bison b.c. directly in the spotlight as one of the best heavy metal bands in existence. While this album certainly feels like a defining moment for the band, the urgency and confidence on display leaves the impression that they have yet to reach their peak.
