Tree-tagging or other forest-based graffiti is a lost medium in these days of city-based arts. Fortunately, Belgian duo SardoniS are bringing back the bygone days of taking a permanent marker, jogging through the woods with a hood up and writing shit on fallen trees for hikers to see and probably be confused by later. Their video for the song “Entering the Woods,” from an upcoming album that may or may not share that title, keeps the band’s thrashy and aggressive edge while also being tonally pummeling.

SardoniS‘ prior offering and self-titled debut for MeteorCity, released in 2010 (review here), was a treat, and I look forward to hearing more of the follow-up, but for now, here’s “Entering the Woods”:

Otherwise known as the heaviest thing to come out of Belgium since Chimay blanc, the guitar/drum duo SardoniS (there’s one capital S for each band member) shared the following clip of a new song called “Emperor,” captured live in Westmalle — otherwise known as the home of one of the world’s seven true trappist breweries. Doom in the land of beer-making monks? You’re damn right I’m posting this video. Not sure when the album’s out, but enjoy this in the meantime.

Even though there’s only half of what’s commonly regarded as a full band comprising the lineup of Belgian doomers SardoniS, you can’t argue with the mission of their self-titled MeteorCity debut LP. At their core, guitarist Roel Paulussen (also of Solenoid) and drummer Jelle Stevens seem hell bent on stripping stoner doom to its basest core and dwelling in the harsh reality of iceberg riffs and tectonic crashes. The album is instrumental, and rather than missing the vocals, the effect the nine songs have is one of unimpeded groove. In a genre where the riff is the central component anyway, SardoniS take it to the extreme. Not only is the riff central, it’s all there is.

There are some samples peppered in, and of course, there are the drums, but SardoniS is an anti-guitar-rock guitar rock album. By that I mean none of the tropes of traditional instrumental guitar rock show up: the lyrical solos, the wankery, the pure Satriani-ness are all as absent as a vocalist and bassist. What you get instead is the High on Fire thrash of “Thor” and “The Wolf’s Lair” (which follows the aptly-titled acoustic breath-catching moment, “More Severe Things Await”) or the unadulterated Black Sabbath “Black Sabbath”-ery of closer “It Walks the Mountain.” Nothing comes between the listener and the riffs. Certainly instrumental stoner rock isn’t anything new, but SardoniS tackle it from such a rudimentary stance that adding any frills seems unnecessary or almost silly.

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Everybody’s touring Europe these days. Of course, in the case of Belgian duo SardoniS (MySpace here), it makes sense to want to get paid in Euros. Actually, come to think of it, that makes sense for everyone. Good for SardoniS though, whose self-titled CD is out now on MeteorCity, getting out and doing the thing. According to the PR wire, they’ve got a slew of dates, and a CD release party with the increasingly ubiquitous Karma to Burn. Dig it:

The official SardoniS CD release party will take place on April 10 in Het Depot in Leuven (Belgium) in support of Karma to Burn and Year Long Disaster. Organized by Belgian bookers Orange Factory.

Also, SardoniS will be touring Europe with Dark Fortress and SerpentCult. The tour dates are as follows:

Feb 12 2010 – Muziekodroom – Hasselt (B)
Feb 13 2010 – Helvete – Oberhausen (D)
Feb 14 2010 – Rocket Club – Landshut (D)
Feb 15 2010 – Exit Chmelnice – Prague (CZ)
Feb 16 2010 – Arena – Vienna (A)
Feb 17 2010 – Dynamo Werk 21 – Zurich (CH)
Feb 18 2010 – Rock It – Aalen (D)
Feb 19 2010 – Eastclub – Bischofswerda (D)
Feb 20 2010 – Ostendfest – Oostende (B)
Feb 21 2010 – Willemeen – Arhnem (NL)