Yes, you read the title right. No, this review is not about Bourbon. It is about the solo project of one S. Vincent of SMOULDER fame, and its maiden full length release, Tales From The Ezra Brooks Cycle. The full – length album comes ten whole years after EZRA BROOKS’ first demo, and Vincent plays absolutely everything on the record. A one man project in the true sense of the word.
Thematically, although not strictly a concept – album, Tales From The Ezra Brooks Cycle focuses on the band’s namesake, a time traveler, who in a futuristic sci – fi world is being hunted for crimes she has yet to commit after discovering a mysterious amulet beneath Antarctica. Naturally, since we’re talking about Vincent here, the lyrics are ripe with criticism of the current state of the world, a concern for where we’re heading, and a strong anti – fascist message.
Musically, the record is a unique Heavy Metal feast. The frenetic riffing and the unconventional guitar phrasing point directly to THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG as the primary influence for this work. EZRA BROOKS avoids sounding like a copycat by masterfully blending in its other influences; a strong BROCAS HELM vibe enrichens the sound with some heftiness, a clumsiness that gives it a much needed grounding, a sort of street – level quality. One can also definitely discern some Proto – Metal touches in some aspects of the record, while both music and spacey thematology give off an essence of SACRED BLADE. Of course, the basis of the record stands firmly in Traditional Heavy Metal, especially in its most epic manifestations. Fans of MANILLA ROAD and Into Glory Ride – era MANOWAR will for sure notice what I’m talking about. Vincent has made the risky choice to turn a couple of the tracks into a narration of sorts, with the instrumentation functioning as its musical carpet. Personally, that choice definitely won me over, adding even more character and atmosphere to an already very individual record. The droning, distant vocals are a perfect fit for the material.
Ultimately, the wait for a complete EZRA BROOKS discographic foray was well worth it. Take your time with this one dear reader, because even with the relatively short time I have spent with it, I can guarantee you that the Tales From The Ezra Brooks Cycle has much more to give.
EZRA BROOKS – Tales From The Ezra Brooks Cycle will be released on the 27th of November 2026 by Gates Of Hell Records, on Vinyl, CD and Digital.
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Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
