GREEN LUNG - Necropolitan

'Open the Hellmouth' wastes no time setting an ominous tone, as eerie, droning sounds slowly pull us into the darkness. Just as you begin to wonder where exactly we've ended up, ritualistic voices emerge alongside slow, deliberate drumming, deepening the sense that we've crossed into somewhere we perhaps shouldn't be. A brief but effective introduction that leaves the gates wide open for whatever comes next.

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The true opener 'Dance to the Grave' turns its attention towards a world seemingly dancing towards its own destruction, confronting the collision of far-right politics, technology and the climate crisis with enormous riffs and relentless forward momentum.The vocals carry plenty of emotion above a powerful rhythm section, although allowing them slightly more space in the mix could have made their impact even stronger, admittedly, that's criticism on a very high level. Echoes of BLACK SABBATH, QUEEN and JUDAS PRIEST can be heard throughout, yet GREEN LUNG never loses their own identity between those influences. The bridge briefly strips everything away to leave the vocals exposed before a brooding solo rolls in, adding another strong moment to an already commanding opener.

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'Evil in This House' brings plenty of groove alongside narrative vocals and a wonderfully sinister atmosphere. A stoner metal band in a ghost-filled house, what could possibly go wrong? Inspired by the haunted reputation of London's 50 Berkeley Square, the track shifts the horror into the city and backs it with a crushing, Sabbath-heavy riff. The arrangement feels rawer and more direct, allowing the powerful rhythm section and especially the prominent bass line to shine. Yet beneath all that weight sits an almost danceable groove and an infectious chorus, giving the haunted-house atmosphere a surprising amount of movement.

'Alostrael (Be My Babalon)' introduces another dimension with Castle Rat's Riley Pinkerton, whose spoken narration from Revelation immediately changes the character of the composition. Behind her voice, what sounds like a Hammond organ adds even more layers, as if the track needed any more. There is something powerful yet distinctly melancholic running through the song, carried by melodic drumming and an impressively tight interplay between guitar and organ. A prominent bass adds the final punch, while the vocals remain cohesive with the increasingly dramatic atmosphere. Skillful, layered and one of those tracks where there always seems to be something else hiding in the mix.

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'Necropolitan Line' begins so quietly it is barely there before suddenly exploding into hard-driving riffs and full-blown '70s organ madness. Inspired by the real-life Necropolis Railway that once transported London's dead, the track turns that macabre piece of history into one of the album's most energetic moments. Just when you think you've figured GREEN LUNG out, they pull something different from their sleeve: the pace races forward, guitars and organ battle for attention, and the vocals climb increasingly higher and wilder as the madness unfolds. Fast, infectious and simply a hell of a lot of fun. 

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We close our journey through London's darker past with 'To the Gallows Born', an epic finale inspired by the stories surrounding the Tyburn gallows. The press release places it somewhere between IRON MAIDEN's 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' and Frank Sinatra's 'My Way', and you know what, this time I have to agree. A beautiful singalong melody opens the track with a noticeable touch of sadness before a groove-laden riff and melodic drumming bring back the weight. Grandeur and melancholy move naturally alongside one another, allowing GREEN LUNG to showcase their impressive musicianship and strong sense of songwriting one final time. A fittingly dramatic end to our journey through "Necropolitan".

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With "Necropolitan", GREEN LUNG turns London's darker history into a wonderfully vivid blend of heavy riffs, haunting atmosphere and irresistible groove. Hammond organs, powerful vocals and a remarkably strong rhythm section bring the stories to life, while the songwriting constantly finds new ways to surprise. Heavy, melodic and packed with character, "Necropolitan" proves that the dead may provide the stories, but GREEN LUNG makes them feel very much alive.

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SCORE 9/10

REVIEWED BY SWAMPY