Necropolitan

With 'Necropolitan', Green Lung have delivered what can only be described as a masterclass in atmospheric world-building. On this sprawling forty-minute journey, the band successfully synthesises the crushing weight of doom metal with the swirling, hallucinogenic depths of occult rock. It is a cohesive piece of art that feels less like a collection of tracks and more like a singular, decaying cathedral of sound.

The production is impeccably handled, capturing a vast sense of space that allows every texture to breathe. Rather than burying the instruments in a wall of fuzz, the production highlights the intricate nuances of the arrangements. The low-end is massive, providing a foundation of dread, while the high-ender elements—haunting melodies and ethereal backing layers—soar over the top like ghostly echoes in a limestone vault.
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Opening with 'Open the Hellmouth', the band establishes an immediate, suffocating tension. The tempo is deliberate, inviting the listener to sink into the sludge. It isn't merely slow for the sake of style; it is slow to build the necessary psychological weight. The transition into 'Dance to the Grave' shows a commendable restraint, maintaining the momentum of the atmosphere while shifting the melodic focus, proving that Green Lung understands the power of gradual escalation.

A devastatingly beautiful fusion of doom and psychedelia.

'Black Magick Radio' and 'Necropolitan Line' are perhaps the most striking examples of their psychedelic sensibilities. Here, the interplay between heavy riffs and swirling, swirling textures creates a disorienting, hypnotic effect. The melodies are haunting, often lingering in the mind long after the track concludes. There is a deliberate craftsmanship in these arrangements, where every note seems placed to enhance the feeling of ritualistic gloom.

Midway through the record, 'Evil in this House' and 'Together in Death' showcase a deeper, more emotional resonance. These tracks lean into the 'doom' element more overtly, yet they never lose their elegant edge. The vocal performances are appropriately somber, treating the lyrics as incantations rather than mere poetry. It is this commitment to the 'ritual' of the music that elevates the record beyond standard genre tropes.

'Ozymandias' provides a fascinating departure in texture, perhaps a nod to the ephemeral nature of power. The pacing here is regal, almost monolithic. Following this, 'Alostrael (Be My Babalon)' leans heavily into the occult rock influence, introducing a more hypnotic, trancelike quality that serves as a perfect segue into the finale. The choice of these specific structures suggests a band that views their music as an immersive experience rather than a set of demands.

Closing with 'To the Gallows Born', Green Lung leave the listener in a state of exhausted serenity. The finality of the piece brings the 'Necropolitan' journey to a close with a sense of profound completion. It is a rare feat to produce an album that feels both expansive and tightly controlled, but 'Necropolitan' achieves this by prioritising atmosphere over spectacle.

Ultimately, 'Necropolitan' stands as a monumental achievement for the genre. It is a refined, meticulously crafted piece of heavy music that rewards patient listening. Green Lung haven't just made a doom metal record; they have constructed a haunting, psychedelic sanctuary of sound that will resonate for years. It is a flawless execution of their vision.