Samothrace plays ultra heavy doom with harsh alcohol-soaked vocals. And yet a somber melodic sense also permeates the 4 long tracks on "Life’s Trade". Not in the overused, weepy Euro-doom tradition, but distinctly Midwestern, soulful and blues inflected. The songs shimmer with desperation, hopelessness and pain, both world weary for the plight of the oppressed and also intensely personal. The melodic interplay of guitarist Bryan Spinks and Renata Castagna is distinct in doom played this heavy and each song is meticulously crafted for maximum emotional impact. Recorded and mixed by Sanford Parker (Buried At Sea, Pelican, Nachtmystium), "Life’s Trade" rates as a stunning debut by a band soon to be on top of the doom genre.
