Doom Flower Releases Limestone Ritual

By Phil Hawkins

Back when I was in high school/college I was pretty engrossed in the TV series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was steeping in late 90s goodness that I could not seem to get enough of. However, the draw was not so much the story or the characters as it was the fictional club The Bronze that always had artists that perfectly fit the 90s and show aesthetic. Over the course of the show’s tenure the stage of The Bronze was graced by several real life artists such as K’s Choice, Halo Friendlies, Nerf Herder, Aimee Mann and Michelle Branch.

Of course, there were several other acts that would have fit well in the mix of gazey artists. Most notable Sneaker Pimps, which despite being lesser know in some musical circles would have probably been too big of a name for the show’s producers to get at the time. However, Chicago based band Doom Flower would have easily fit the vibe that was often heard within the walls of The Bronze.

Doom Flower recently released their sophomore album, Limestone Ritual (January 6th via Record Label), and it carries a solid mix of dreampop, shoegaze and trip-hop that feels invigorating and fresh while still seeming somewhat familiar.

Limestone Ritual opens with “Blaze” which instantly builds an airy and organic aesthetic with a lush instrumentation. All of this creates the perfect backdrop for [Jess] Price’s breathy vocals. “Break Cycle” and “Candle Habit” follow with both keeping a solid mid-tempo that carries throughout the majority of the album. However, just because it remains somewhat constant with the tempo it never feels dull, boring or repetitive. “Enroll” follows and kicks off with a solid bass line that remains prominent throughout the track. Given the nature of the current musical soundscape and almost everyone focusing on soaring guitars it is refreshing to find a band that revels in the simplicity of their instrumentation and allows other instruments to take the forefront and be more of a driving force musically.

“Loess Hills” keeps the same driving bass force that has been seen on the opening half of the album along with the resilient mid-tempo. “Space” drops about mid way through the album and almost feels like filler or wasted musical space, but it creates a whole mood for the forthcoming second half of the album. “Past Tense” and “Ride in the Car” follow suit with the airy and organic aesthetic that has been constant on the album thus far. For some, that might grow stale by this point in the album. However, there are musical elements that manage to keep things from too bland.

“Sweep” may be the most unique track on the album and once again carries a solid opening bass line amongst an ethereal soundscape for a backdrop. This mixed with Price’s vocals create the perfect mix while reveling in a somber almost melancholic tone. “Telehealth” shifts back to more of the familiar mid-tempo gazey element, but shows Price expanding her vocal range a bit more than what has been the norm thus far. The album closes out with “Tracker” and “Between Us” which both have their own unique attributes. “Tracker” carries some mild keys/synth in the background that fill out the soundscape in a simplistic yet elegant way. “Between Us” has more of an electronic element and is purely soundscape in the same vein as “Space.” However, once again it does not feel like wasted musical space but brings about an almost completionistic mood as it caps off the album.

Overall, Limestone Ritual is a solid piece of work that is perfect for anyone looking to just sit back and chill with a solid vibe. It is full of 90s throwbacks with a modern flair.

Limestone Ritual is available now on all major digital and streaming platforms or you can purchase directly from the Doom Flower Bandcamp.