MILLS OF GOD (Call Of The Eastern Moon) LP/CD
It was in 2005, when I received the first one-song demo from the German instrumental band MILLS OF GOD. The band did attract my attention with their song 'The Seed', an epic riffscape that was floating along like a laodicean stream of tar. In consequence of a skilful handling with various dynamics it was no problem for me to sit through the complete running time of circa 20 minutes and besides it was good to recognize that this guys were on the best way to create their own musical profile. A few years have passed, and suddenly in 2008 I found a package from the German label Modus Operandi Records in my mailbox, that contains the first full-length album of MILLS OF GOD. The first thing I noticed was the tasteful cover artwork from Tom Denney, who has done a lot of good stuff during the past years. More important is of course the music, and when MILLS OF GOD record an album it means that you'll find not much songs on it, but the included tracks are lengthy. The opener 'Call Of The Eastern Moon' needs some time before it's picking up pace, but once the first riff begins I feel as if I would be buried alive under a truckload of bricks. Sounds terrible, but in that case it's just fine.
MILLS OF GOD make sure that the song will keep its dynamic over the complete running time of 21:22 minutes, because they change the pace at times instead of trudging along like a dying dinosaur. The second track is 'Monolith' and the title is more than an appropriate description for it. Again the band proves that they know their craft of sonic architecture. The hypnotic force of that track is quite strong, while a few implied guitar solos are making it more canorous and remind me to the riffmaster general Tony Iommi. The running time of 21:49 minutes isn't tedious, because I never have the impression that MILLS OF GOD try to lengthen their songs by means of dullness. The CD edition of 'Call Of The Eastern Moon' contains the bonus track 'The Seed' from their first demo, what is a good idea because it's still a great tune that reveils another side of their music. This is a very solid debut that consists of songs that move along with ferocious might, swinging and swaying wherever they might please. Meanwhile MILLS OF GOD working on new songs where they want to depart from being an instrumental band so I'm curious how they will sound with additional vocals.
(KK)