Musings: Eye of Doom – The Sapient

I love it when a great Canadian band releases an album that’s right up my alley. Such is the case with Vancouver’s Eye of Doom and their newly released The Sapient. Why aren’t there more space doom records like this one? The Sapient is a concept album in the same vein as the trio’s outstanding 2020 EP, Curse of the Pharaoh. Buckle up, this is gonna be one hell of a trip!

This is an album where the cover art is a precise depiction of what awaits the listener inside. And what gorgeous art it is! Evocative of Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, a lone cosmonaut stands before a monolith as cold, ominous outer space surrounds him. The structure of The Sapient reminded me of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here; that album is bookended by “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Part I-V)” and “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Part VI-IX)” with three songs sandwiched in the middle. Aside from the 2-minute intro, The Sapient follows the same configuration, with “Eye of Doom Part I” and “Eye of Doom Part II” bookending the three songs in the middle. After the sounds of space turmoil that is the intro of “224.7”, we are treated to the crushing doom of “Eye of Doom Part I”. This song is epic in all meanings of the word. Thick and heavy, largely instrumental with a guitar solo from the depths of the cosmos, this is space doom at its best. “Dead Void” follows and it may well be the doomiest track of the record with despair-filled lyrics and ethereal vocals. “Return to Descension” has an aura of malevolence, melodic killer guitars, stellar intergalactic bass, intricate lyrics, and is heavier than a mammoth. It’s my personal favourite on an album of favourites. The title track, “The Sapient”, starts off slow, hypnotic, then bursts like a supernova. It has a certain otherworldly, meditative vibe. Close your eyes and let yourself drift away. The cosmonaut’s journey comes to an end with “Eye of Doom Part II”, a powerful, psychedelic, proggy delight that sounds quite dissimilar to Part I.

Wow. This album will blow your mind. You’ll need to catch your breath after listening to it. And it gets exponentially better on subsequent spins. One of the top three doom albums of 2022 and an absolute must for year-end best albums lists. The Sapient’s lengthier tracks never wear out their welcome; every riff, lick, and solo fits perfectly within the grand design of the record. It’s got Sabbath worship for fans of old school doom and sounds innovative with its diversity of spacey prog doom. Spellbinding vocals, merciless guitars, a pulsating rhythm section, complex lyrics: everything here is done to perfection. Eye of Doom are bound to reach the stars with this masterful album. Pick up The Sapient as soon as you can!

Eye of Doom on Bandcamp: https://eyeofdoom.bandcamp.com/album/the-sapient