TAR POND "Protocol Of Constant Sadness" 2020

"Tar Pond are the electric protocol of constant sadness.
Tar Pond are a heavy doom rock anti-supergroup from Switzerland."

These are the first lines you can read on the band's official page... and i admit this pictures well the overall concept... Formed in 2015 around Marky Edelmann (Coroner), Martin Ain (Celtic Frost/Hellhammer), Thomas Ott (Playboys/Beelzebub), A.C. Kupper (Demolition Blues) and Tommy Vetterli (Coroner), the band went thru alot of difficult times when founding members A.C. Kupper and Tommy Vetterli left the band .. but also when Martin Ain suffered a stroke/heart attack and died on 21 October 2017 ... life can sometimes be a real BITCH, I tell you ! In spite of all these shits (and also the pandemic appearing at the time this release was out, depriving the band of many possible gigs), TAR POND is still here, active, decided to go on whatever it may cost.. THIS forces ADMIRATION for sure !
This "Protocol Of Constant Sadness" is made of 4 songs that shines by their darkness & propensity to plunge us into a murky, dark and desperate universe .. Musically this is not as "Metal" or "Heavy" as CORONER or CELTIC FROST could be, but this is as DARK & catchy.. the style is more "Rock" oriented.. but the very depressive dark side of the style.. When hearing the songs, it just makes me think of an improbable mix of what bands like early-Black Sabbath, The Young Gods, Saint-Vitus, The Doors could do altogether... I admit, this association of band names sounds weird, right ? But hey, try by yourself.. and tell me, I'm sure you'll agree ! So yes, it's damn dark, DOOMy, GLOOMy, makes you feel suffocate at times, plunges you into uncomfortable feelings .. like sucked into a whirlwind of "contant sadness" .. They said it all from the beginning ! What also impresses me alot are the kinda apocalyptic, Tom Waits-meets-Franz Treichler-like vocals - very surprising & it fits the music so well !
Like the many quality bands that Switzerland has been able to produce over the years, TAR POND turns out to be one of the very best bands of this scene, which is as rich as it is eclectic, and manages to surprise the listener by performing there with this "Protocol Of Constant Sadness" one of the best achievements of 2020 !

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