It’s probably not lost upon you that we are fans of pulp and metal here at Monsters, Madness and Magic. Much of my free-time is spent scouring for specific occasions in which the two are forged into one. One glance at the album art for Smoulder’s 2019 debut album Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring will produce a raised eyebrow for any seeker of sonic sorcery.
While it’s certainly never fair to judge a book by its cover, great artwork always helps. It’s not long into the listen when Smoulder begins to conjure feelings of Candlemass, but with quite a bit more kick. And a sword. With lyrical themes sure to send seasoned warriors back to the pages of their pulp of preference, Smoulder’s first blows are fatal and deserving of the album of the year consideration. Recently, I had a chance to speak with vocalist Sarah Ann about Smoulder’s surge and upcoming EP Dream Quest Ends.