Glasgow’s doom metal quartet, Cwfen, have written a ferocious, mystical howl of a debut album on their latest release, Sorrows.
Vocalist and rhythm guitarist Agnes Alder shares the following about Sorrows:
“We never set out to write an album. We were just four friends making music we wanted to hear. But then Sorrows emerged, and when it did, it pulled us into its orbit. We couldn’t ignore it. When we stopped trying to fit into any one space, what came out was this beautiful mix of dark and light. Something visceral and cathartic.”
After covering ‘Wolfsbane’ in March, I couldn’t wait for the release of Sorrows. The power and dynamism found there bleeds over to the totality of the album and firmly establishes Cwfen as a leading connoisseur of doomgaze.
‘Reliks’ is a more polished version of the release from last year. One for the outcasts, this track conjures a loneliness that feels arduous and utterly tragic. Commanding guitar and crashing cymbals augment the tortured vocals until they unfold into wails. A solid, heavy song, ‘Reliks’ holds all the essentials for goth metal lovers.
The guitar riff for ‘Whispers’ is my favourite instrumentation on Sorrows. Hinting at phantasmal echoes that haunt us despite our best efforts, the track lingers on as well. Bewitching in nature, ‘Whispers’ falls on repeat with ease.
Out of the three transition distortion tracks on Sorrows, ‘Fragment III’ was the standout contender. As wind and storm flutter further into static jumbles, it sets the stage perfectly for the following turbulent track, ‘Embers.’ Presenting an interesting opportunity for noise-rock forays in the future, I hope Cwfen explores more with doom distortion music.
‘Embers’ opens with a churning guitar and bolstering bass that uplifts the pleading vocals into jagged shrieks. Cries of invisibility reveal the despairing core at the heart of ‘Embers’ and climax the anguish that rips through the track. The suffering truly pangs on this song, leaving an unexpected tenderness in its wake.
Sorrows is a monumental step for Cwfen in the metal sphere. Touching and ghastly, Sorrows channels the crucial messages sent forth from the darkness.
Upcoming Live Shows:
13/06 – Glasglow: Faetooth, Cwfen
14/06 – Huddersfield: Faetoon, Cwfen
17/06 – London: Faetooth, Cwfen
18/06 – Manchester: Faetooth, Cwfen
19/06 – Norwich: Faetooth, Cwfen
20/06 – Ramsgate: Faetooth, Cwfen
02/08 – Cardross, Back Doune The Rabbit Hole – Burrowlands Stage
Follow Cwfen on Instagram | Bandcamp