Sigiriya

Sigiriya is a Welsh heavy rock band from Swansea, active since 2009. The group forms around former members of Acrimony: guitarist Stu O’Hara, bassist Mead, drummer Darren Ivey and vocalist Dorian Walters. They take shape after Acrimony ends, with the intention of moving beyond a simple revival of that earlier project while keeping a large, heavy riff-based sound at the centre of the music.

Style and background

The band’s sound sits in heavy metal, rock and stoner rock, with associations to stoner metal, doom metal and stoner doom. Their music develops from the dense, monolithic groove linked to Acrimony, but it also draws in boogie, classic rock and crust influences. The group is described as having a heavier, earthier and more dynamic approach than their earlier work, with an emphasis on thick, dirty guitar-led sonics.

History

Sigiriya form in 2009, eight years after the end of Acrimony. Alongside that connection, the members bring experience from bands including Iron Monkey, Helvis, Dukes of Nothing, Black Eye Riot, The Nine and Yeti. Their name comes from Sigiriya, the Sri Lankan rock fortress known as the “throat of the lion”.

Releases

The band’s debut album, Return to Earth, appears in 2011. It is released on The Church Within. The group is also associated with Candlelight Records.