Belgo-Babylonian Doom Metal and hand selected herbal tea, unbelievable! I’m going to go to 2022 when Ván Records sent a copy of a live recording from Roadburn Redux 2021 to my editor, which I happened to pick up. That album was “Her True Nature” by THE NEST. I wrote a huge review for that album and the moment, the very first moment I heard ON ALL FOURS, it instantly teleported me back to when I first heard “Her True Nature”. This was literally when I heard the first track on “Hybris”, I had no idea what was in the queue. Now, both are very different projects but both are incredibly similar, they’re both dark, introspective and extremely personal projects, which wear their hearts on their sleeves. Although “Hybris” opens with an absolutely delicate acoustic piece, that completely envelopes you with its simplicity and draws you within. Track # 2, ‘Design – For Four’s Sake’, starts slowly, bare bones but with a wind instrument that takes up the void left behind by the vocals, but then I hear the band’s true nature, the heavy guitars kick-in! Yes! This is what I was waiting for, angelic vocals, distorted guitars, ceremonial drums and delicate bass notes that sound like poetry in motion. ON ALL FOURS is a passion project that puts forward the truest sense of expression of each of the musicians involved. It is not possible to capture such an essence otherwise, think of AGALLOCH like atmosphere build-up and couple that with the vocals that can rid you off the darkest memories and to it add a ceremonial rhythm section and we have ON ALL FOURS at their best. Simply brilliant! Remember THE DEVIL’S BLOOD? They’re perhaps the closest comparison to what ON ALL FOURS seeks to deliver. However, these both are similar projects but are wildly different. ON ALL FOURS adds in a simplified element of instrumentation that keeps the songs ring fenced and stick to the pre-designated format. Is this brand new? No, it is not. Is this groundbreaking? No, it is not. ON ALL FOURS manage to find their symbiotic space between instrumentation and writing by diving deep into execution. The absolute highlight of the album are the vocals that as-they-are could be chanting an incantation or be singing a lullaby, it is amazing how these vocals can be interpreted. I suppose the closest comparison could be the hauntingly beautiful Welsh band MAMMOTH WEED WIZARD BASTARD. The guitars do their job as necessary and make sure the spaces in between are well documented and accented. I’m very thrilled to be listening to ON ALL FOURS, not only has it taken me completely by surprise, but it has also managed to keep me engaged. The only complaint I have is, the length of the album could’ve easily been cut down by 15 minutes. Otherwise, go check out “Hybris”. Apparently, the first 44 pre-orders/orders were shipped with hand selected herbal tea by the band, I mean come on! Anyway, get a copy and write to the band, this is a wonderful effort and Ván Records clearly knows what they’re looking for and how to deliver it to the fans. Well done! Recommended. For more information, please visit: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554419517333, www.facebook.com/vanrecords