Duel is one of those bands I’ve heard of for years and have been meaning to check out, but haven’t gotten around to doing so until now. My ex girlfriend who hailed from their native state of Texas would occasionally bring them up as an example of a stoner/doom band that I wouldn’t think completely sucked. And I can’t help but think it was my cynicism towards the stoner/doom niche that was partial to me avoiding Duel all these years. That and my petulant ideology that once you’ve heard Black Sabbath Vol. 4, you’ve heard the entire genre (with some exceptions).
So imagine my shock when learning that upon listening to Duel’s latest album, In Carne Persona, they aren’t a stoner/doom band at all! I can’t speak for previous releases, and the handy dandy Metal Archives have them listed as “psychedelic doom/stoner metal/rock”, but as far as I’m concerned, this is an early 70s metal album. Sure there are some doomy, stoner, and psychedelic traits scattered throughout, but the same could be said for close to any 70s metal, prog, or blues band. Considering all of those bands were on copious amounts of hallucinogenics, of course everything was going to sound fuzzier.
I’m not sure what Duel is taking (if anything), but whatever it is, it’s working. Their unique spin on the folksy side of Thin Lizzy (think “Emerald”) immediately grabs the listener’s attention with the opening “Children of the Fire”. “Behind the Sword” is another cut in the Lizzy vein, chock full of galloping riffs and magnificent leads. However, there’s more to Duel than emulating the valiant guitar work and fantastical lyricism of Ireland’s finest. “The Veil” is an uneasy helping of cryptic heaviness, with brash riffs and gruff vocals reminiscent of Sir Lord Baltimore, while “Anchor” channels the frantic amphetamine fueled frenzy of Secret Treaties era Blue Öyster Cult.
All of this is done through a thick layer of Sabbathian fuzz, but structurally speaking, In Carne Persona is not a stoner/doom album. The two exceptions are the first minute of “Wave of Your Hand” and the closing “Blood on the Claw”, but that’s a song and a half on a 9 song album of rip roaring hard and heaviness. Take one of my choice cuts for example, “Bite Back”. Fiery and ferocious, it comes off like Stained Class era Judas Priest on acid. You’d be hard pressed to find any other stoner/doom band channeling Tipton and Downing. Another highlight is the ominous “Dead Eyes”, which only could’ve been spawned in the depths of a Texan desert…or perhaps close nearby.
Duel is a band who lives up to their name: Armed and ready to duel those who oppose their retro metal attack. In their defense, you’d have to be some kvlt nerd to not get down to the high time grooves of this album. Pick your poison, turn on your blacklight, and crank In Carne Persona up loud enough for the neighbors to hear. They’ll be thanking you in the long run.
7 out of 10
Label: Heavy Psych Sounds
Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
For fans of: Thin Lizzy, Sir Lord Baltimore, Black Sabbath