Lahbryce by Sum Of R

Sum Of R has become a band in which Reto Mäder (Ural Umbo, JeGong, RM74) has joined forces with Jukka Rämänen (Dark Buddha Rising, Hexvessel, Waste Of Space Orchestra, Dust Mountain) and Marko Neuman (Dark Buddha Rising, Ural Umbo, Waste Of Space Orchestra, Convocation).

Sum Of R was initially created in 2008 by Reto Mäder and ever since underwent several states of metamorphosis from atmospheric doom into ritualistic drone rock into dark ambient and experimental music...

...A new chapter starts here: Goodbye instrumental project, welcome Sum Of R as a trio with a singing spirit like a transmitter to another dimension.

The result of these three wandering spirits being let loose in a converted barn in the Finnish countryside near Jyväskylä is "Lahbryce":

"What an unusual but compelling listen this is. Sum of R take the doom sound as we know it, wring the life out of it and then mould it into a mesmerising and psychedelic new shape. One that is still utterly crushing and moving like it is covered in molasses, but has so many strange twists and turns that you almost forget what you’re listening too." (Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life) 9/10

"HOLY F^*K!!! MIND BLOWING!!! By the first track alone! Do you guys have two different vocalists? The vocals are so incredible… Three tracks in - I’m speechless; overwhelmed by the artistic scope and feel. You guys have outdone yourselves - artistically and musically! This is a next-level album for Sum Of R!!! Uhhh… You guys have something really special going on here! Lahbryce is such a hypnotic affair; there's such a dark psychedelic undercurrent throughout the entire album, which makes it really stand out. This is an album for those who love dark, hypnotic music, but also for the psych heads that love a somewhat different approach." (Walter Hoeijmakers, Artistic director Roadburn Festival)

"The result of this union is spatial and atmospheric music with darkness, a trip into another dimension. The use of vocals is amazing as well as the effects and all the heaviness involved really immerses you in another universe. Lahbryce is a really amazing album, heavy, atmospheric, dark, psychedelic, when it ends it feels like a whole experience, like you've gone somewhere else and suddenly come back"." (Metallerium) 9/10

"Lahbryce is astounding in a lot of ways: aesthetics, atmosphere and sound. The first contact with an album is always the cover-art. In front of a red background, wine and bread are positioned. Although it looks like a classic, calm “Stillleben” (still life) as we say in Germany, but in fact, it is slightly unsettling.
- The wine:
Two glasses, one is nearly empty, while the other one is unfinished. Wine is for me a drink of taste, something special, not just a thing to get hammered with. Surely, Sum of R are heavy, but they are not heavy for the sake of being heavy. They are heavy, because it helps the atmosphere and the flow of the record.
- The bread:
A piece is torn off, clearly not cut. Although having gentle moments, this album is definitely a Sludge / Doom-Metal album. The guitars are rough around the edges and the production adds so much to the massive sound of this record.
- The color red:
The color red is seemingly always combined with either danger or love. Those diametral elements can also be applied to the sound of Sum of R. On the one hand there are those almost tranquil guitar motives that repeat over and over and on the other hand there are these extreme outbursts combined with the haunting growls and screams of singer Marko Neuman." (Transcended Music)

The current incarnation of the band sees Reto Mäder (Ural Umbo, JeGong, RM74) teamed up with Jukka Rämänen (Dark Buddha Rising, Hexvessel, Waste Of Space Orchestra, Dust Mountain) on drums and Marko Neuman (Dark Buddha Rising, Ural Umbo, Waste Of Space Orchestra, Convocation) on vocals.

sumofrofficial.com