On August 21st internationally, Personal Records is proud to present Argul's highly anticipated debut album, Soledad & Orgullo, on CD format.
Argul are a doom metal band formed by guitarist Mauricio Guerrero and drummer Jose María Venturi in Lima, Peru, in 2014. Initially, their sound leaned more towards the roots of metal and stoner rock, drawing inspiration from contemporary bands such as Orange Goblin, Witchcraft, and Reverend Bizarre. Over time, as the rest of the members joined, with bassist Jian Holmes and drummer Alonso Guerrero, Argul's sound has evolved into the more distinct style it is today: slower, heavier, and more introspective.
Despite having just one demo to their name prior, the members of Argul are veterans of the Peruvian scene, doing or having done time in such bands as La Garúa, Arcada, Lightning, and now-labelmates Illwind. Over the years, Argul have been shaping their sound into something epic and immersive. The band has shared the stage with bands from the Latin American scene such as Reino Ermitaño, La Ira de Dios, King Heavy, Mortajas, Mephistofeles, Kranium, and Satánicos Marihuanos and had the opportunity to open for Candlemass in Lima on their 2016 tour.
Now, at long last, Argul's debut album is upon us: Soledad & Orgullo (English: "Solitude & Pride"). Bringing the past into the present, this first full-length presents a blend of the band's early days - that is, a raw stoner sound - with the Argul of today, where heavier atmospheres are moving between crushing weight and quieter, thoughtful moments without losing intensity. As such, the band's influences span a spectrum where doom and traditional heavy rock meet the '60s, prog, and classical composers, with influences ranging from Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, Pentagram, and Thin Lizzy to Warning, Yob, Death in June, Camel, Genesis, and Stravinsky, forming a sound that feels both grounded in tradition and open to density, contrast, and concentration. What's more, Argul mostly utilizing their native tongue imparts a particularly unique aspect to the album, highlighting those contrasts whilst never losing a focused consistency - Soledad & Orgullo indeed!
The primordial is wrapped in a gloomy heaviness. The essence is the obscure and the inevitable. This is Argul's Soledad & Orgullo!
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track "Vigil"
HERE at Personal Records' Bandcamp. Preorder info can be found
HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Argul's Soledad & Orgullo
1. Ritual [10:08]
2. Engendro [5:04]
3. Hor Hodin [5:47]
4. Animal Dog [10:15]
5. Kamog [14:20]
