{"id":230157,"date":"2026-02-20T22:13:54","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T21:13:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.angrymetalguy.com\/?p=230157"},"modified":"2026-02-20T22:14:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T21:14:09","slug":"sleeping-giant-the-beauty-of-obliteration-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.angrymetalguy.com\/sleeping-giant-the-beauty-of-obliteration-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Sleeping Giant – The Beauty of Obliteration Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"“Sleeping Giant” was always a standout song for me on Mastodon<\/strong>’s Blood Mountain<\/em>. After two thrashy, pummeling tracks, “Sleeping Giant” slows the pace and ups the atmosphere, doling out chunky riffs and creepy leads. Its name aptly captures its role on Blood Mountain<\/em>, feeling like the stirrings of an album (and a band) with gigantic aspirations. Speaking of slow risers, Iceland’s Sleeping Giant<\/strong> has finally roused for their first LP after forming in 2006.1<\/a><\/sup> It’s eminently plausible that this sludgy stoner-doom sextet derives their moniker from the Blood Mountain<\/em> <\/strong>song, seeing as they cite early Mastodon <\/strong>as a sonic touchstone. Though it would be unfair to expect The Beauty of Obliteration <\/em>to make as big a first impression as Remission<\/em>, it’s more than fair to expect a debut with punishing riffs, gnarly vocals, and some curveballs.<\/p>\n

The Beauty of Obliteration <\/em>demonstrates some mighty fine riff-smithing. This may be because Sleeping<\/strong> Giant<\/strong>\u2014expanding upon the maxim that ‘two heads are better than one’\u2014is working with three heads. The guitar Cerberus of Finnbogi J\u00f6kull, \u00c1rni Bj\u00f6rn Bj\u00f6rnsson, and Gu\u00f0mundur Eir\u00edksson wield an arsenal of doomy dirges (“Conqueror”), stonery shuffles (“Abysmal Flame”), and thrashy assaults (“Venom Ripper, Gorgon Blaster”). Some of these riffs even go straight to the source, boasting a Sabbath<\/strong>y swagger (“The Monk”). Early Mastodon <\/strong>certainly resonates throughout, but the guitarwork makes it clear that these Icelanders also get High on Fire<\/strong>. Indeed, the recurring shifts between stoner-doom and thrash, coupled with the beefy guitar tones, summon the presence of latter-day Matt Pike. But Sleeping Giant <\/strong>aren’t just their three-headed guitar monster; drummer \u00c1smundur J\u00f3hannsson and bassist Einar Darri Einarsson hold down the low end. Einarsson in particular shines, tastefully filling up negative space with bluesy runs (“Conqueror”).<\/p>\n