Brume – Marten (Magnetic Eye)
San Francisco doom/gothic rockers Brume have expanded their lineup from a trio to a quartet for their third album Marten. The addition of Jackie Perez Gratz on cello also expands their musical palette.
Cello is introduced immediately on opener “Jimmy,” which builds from a mellow opening to a dramatic middle section and back to a quiet conclusion. Most songs on the album incorporate a lot of dynamics, contrasting heavy doom riffs with acoustic sections and more reserved parts. Even tracks that are mostly mellow throughout, like “Ottos Song,” are still dynamic. Not only is Brume’s music dynamic, so are the vocals of Susie McMullan, running the gamut from quiet to belting it out. Marten is an interesting leap forward for Brume.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
