Mid-September came an anticipated release from the Massachusetts based band Problem With Dragons. Since the group has been followed by the Drone Shop for several years now, we were eager to pop it on the big system when it came out. And wouldn’t you know it; Permian was the first thing recommended by streaming on the morning of release. For the past month, the record has cycled through the regular shop playlist, and we have been quite eager to discuss it. Of course, life comes in waves, and it seems to have aligned with the ending of summer. It has been incredibly busy here in the Shop but still we are needing to find the time to discuss the music that moves us, the records that drive us to create, and there is no better time than now with this release. The success of the recent release, as well as the bands follow up playing RPM fest, has put Problem With Dragons on the forefront of the sludge/ doom community reaching the record out onto many different playlists across streaming platforms.

Permian marks the 4^th full release from the band, the last release just back in 2022.  The four piece is from Easthampton that bring a unique concoction of doom, gloom, sludge, and even some interesting prog rock songwriting into the universe. The overall song structure is like a mystery flavoured airhead, not really what was expected but fantastic and groovy nonetheless. Also like those mystery airheads, we found ourselves going back for seconds…

The record opens with an almost sermon like four-piece vocal harmony that really lends itself to the imagery of some grand opening ceremony. Though unknown if intentional, here in the shop we love and appreciate the creative use of word painting and lyrical melody movements. The opening song “Deeply Divided” is structured off the division of the upper harmonies against the low, growl-like spoken vocals. The upper harmonies sitting always on top of the instrumentation, with the low vocals sitting right there in the middle of the riffage. Almost as if the voices themselves are sonic representations of the cover art. That being the angry sun and angry moon, though it is up to interpretation which voice is which celestial body. Other interesting use of voice is how it is used in “And All Are Anointed by God” where the opening verse lines more closely resembles a throat singing style low drone.

But come for the vocals, stay for the riffage.

“Suspended” hits the listener midway through the record and is an unexpected, interesting style song that drop kicks you out of nowhere. Still; a refreshing change in the middle one didn’t know they wanted until it sweeps you away. It is a tune that largely reminds one of late 00’s prog bands. Though in a regular time signature, Problem With Dragons uses an interesting mix of accented notes that give it an almost swing feel leading into dissonant chromatic ascending lines.

The riffs scattered about Permian hit hard and groove heavily. The guitars and bass are not as fuzzed out as one would expect from traditional sludge, but rather they are tight, and overlap without stepping on each other. A smart idea as some of the riffs across the record (especially the faster palm-muted sections) would surely become a mess of noise in the context of a traditional doom, or sludge rig. The first song in, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the classic Gibson through JCM or JMP sound; scooped, tight, and thuddy on the chugs. However, seeing them play at the RPM festival in Montague Massachusetts I was pleasantly surprised seeing Fenders, with no Gibson or Marshalls in sight. In fact, from what I could tell it looked as though a Blacktop was being paired with an Iceman through either a blackface Bandmaster, or older blackface Bassman. The bass I believe to be an SVT though I was unable to get a definitive ID on. The bass certainly brings a wall of heavy scoopage with tons of low end, and crispy high end really letting it sit with the guitars while supporting the low end simultaneously.

For a while I felt like we were all going crazy in the shop. A small, unique mix of the drums had us second guessing what we were hearing. Easily slipping past the undedicated listener, or the dreaded phone speaker listener, every time the drums did a fill the toms seemed to be spattered throughout the speaker spectrum. Of course, just about every stereo mixed kit features some spacial panning of some kind. However, the kit here is panned traditionally, as one would expect, save the lower two toms are panned fully opposite one another. So, on long drum fills, or Tom rhythmic sections the kit dances around between eardrums. Cool? Absolutely. If not expecting it, or through the first few tunes, it was a bit jarring. Though that could be attributed to our own expectation of traditionally mixed drums. Here in the shop, we always appreciate trying new ideas and breaking standard conventions. I would be curious though if there was a specific reason for doing the toms this way outside of just sound cool or making the kit that much wider in the mix.

Though at its core Permian is a tried and true Sludge metal record. The songwriting features interesting and unique elements of several different styles including some prog rock types of progressions, rhythms, and cool vocal harmonies. The record is a beautiful blend between active listening, if you want Problem With Dragons to whisk you through the fantastic cosmos, or passive listening if you just want to jam out to the grooves. Though we haven’t heard much of upcoming festivals/ shows or what’s to come, the band is very active across their social platforms. Due to the success of the release of Permian and with the close follow up at the RPM festival, there is no doubt we will be hearing or regular opportunities to come. The Drone Shop hopes one day, sooner rather than later, Problem With Dragons get the chance to roll through the woods here in the PNW, you can bet we will be at the show.

Permian was written and performed by Problem With Dragons

Presumably recorded and mixed at Rock Valley Studio in Easthampton MA, though no definitive information was found.

Photography Credit to @jawzwabandandevents