"Drawing from the chaos of a world of “spiritual sickness” and each of their experiences with addiction, the Virginia duo Among the Rocks and Roots’ debut album Raga is appropriately crushing take on noise rock. Abdul Hakim Bilal’s towering bass drones and Samuel Goff’s thunderous tom explorations have this feeling of improvised weaponry—as if they’d grabbed whatever heavy object was nearest around them and are flinging it haphazardly into the guts of a broken system, with the goal of seeing how much carnage they might wreak. Over the course of four lengthy pieces—the shortest of which is 21 minutes—they keep edges of their instrumentals blunt, favoring raw power over technical wizardry. But the most chilling moments come in quietly, like the staticy dissolution of “Salvation” or the part five minutes into the title track that’s just Bilal’s labored breathing and a long roll on a tom. In between the pained screams, there is the possibility of peace. Or perhaps there is nothing at all." -"40 Essential Albums You Probably Missed So Far in 2018" by Colin Joyce, Noisey/VICE
"Making noise from trauma is difficult work, but can also be a profoundly healing process for musicians - and can also provide a nexus through which others who have experienced similar pain can connect. The duo of Abdul Hakim Bilal and Samuel Goff, Among The Rocks And Roots engages in this complex enterprise with full hearts, full stacks, and an ear for detail. ... 'Raga' is an unsettling album, but it also achieves remarkable catharsis” -”The Best Albums of Winter 2018” by Bandcamp Daily Staff, Bandcamp
Abdul Hakim Bilal and Samuel Goff are Among The Rocks And Roots of Richmond, VA. They play aggressive, long and winding noise rock rooted in ritualistic ideas of trance-induction.
"'Raga” is the second album of a proposed trilogy that started with 'Samdura Garba Pathe' and will end with 'Pariah.' This trilogy details the cumulative journey that we have taken dealing with the issues that led up to a period of addiction for both of us. While the first album details how we got there, 'Raga' is the anger, hatred and frustration of being there. The lyrics deal with issues ranging from abuse (physical, mental and sexual), sleep paralysis, race, police brutality and isolation.
‘Among The Rocks And Roots. Islands of serenity in a sea of cacophony. Distressed heavy, world music exploring the darkest recesses of the soul. Every show. Some will speak in tongues.’
Live
