Revelation started up in the 80s in Baltimore, Maryland releasing what is considered their debut album, Salvation’s Answer in 1991 although earlier this year saw the overdue release of the S/T album that was to have preceded the Salvation’s Answer album. The band has a rich history leading up to 1995 when they released the great Yet So Far CD. They have remained a largely a cult band even though they should be considered one of the greats of the genre. You must keep in mind the same line-up have released a staggering 11 albums under the name Against Nature. This album is the classic line up of Revelation with John Brenner on guitar and vocals, Bert Hall on bass and Steve Branagan on drums. The Release album was a fine return to the Doom scene when it was released last year and this album carries on with the same high quality standard that Release had but this album maybe a little better. "A Matter of Days" kicks the album off in pure Doom Metal fashion with smoking riff work and searing solo work that this band should be famous for. The guitar work is fits in well the adventurous bass work that is wandering in a different direction it seems but they not only make it work, it also sounds fresh although they are on a very traditional Doom Metal path. The band specializes in the pentatonic blues based riff rather than the sustained  notes that so many Doom bands focus on these days. Second track "Offset" simply smokes but like most of this album, the track has a kind of restrained vibe but the guitar/bass and drum work serves the songs in magnificent fashion. A lot of bands would really complicate things but Revelation have the knack of finding the perfect groove and vibe for each track.

Brenner has always been a great vocalist and a bit different than your usual doom metal singer with his high and sometimes nasally voice but it is just perfect for carrying the strong melodies, particularly on the epic "Canyons". At nearly 10 minutes long, this track is a stand out piece of old school Doom Rock. The unique about Revelation is they don't follow the Doom Metal rule book too closely and "Canyons" is a classic example of what can be done if you have some finesse and imagination. The song is basically a extended jam highlighted by Brenner’s exciting soloing that is riveting to listen to. "On A Promontory" is more up-tempo than most of the material on here and "The Whisper Stream" shows the band are not afraid to be a little eccentric with their song-writing. This tune heads into a almost "Rush-Like" song but still with old school Doom Metal tendencies. "Vigil" brings the band back into pure Doom Metal style both musically and lyrically, all the elements are there on this one. Haunting melody, interesting and original arrangements and of course a emotional filled vocal. The album ends with the title track "For the Sake of No One" and its delivered with the same power and passion as the rest of the album. A fitting end to a very complete piece of work from the masters.

While this has a very 70’s style of playing, they add a freshness to it which is a pleasure to hear in 2009. A special mention must go to the guitar work that combines simplicity with some exciting open chord flourishes that gives each and every track some serious depth. I did read once that Brenner was described as a cross between Alex Lifeson and Tony Iommi and that is pretty accurate, the guitar work is heavy but extremely colorful at the same time. As usual with this band the lyrics are highly expressive and thoughtful and delivered from a very personal point of view. The interplay between bass and drum work on this album are not to be missed either, the album has many layers and with all good albums like this, a new layer is discovered every time you give it a spin. The only negative aspect of this album is the recording that is well produced but also extremely quiet, you will need to crank your volume up to fully experience the power this band has. I strongly encourage people to buy this CD or head to the Bland Hand Records site and you’ll find the entire Revelation discography available for download as high quality mp3s. The downloads are on a donation based system, pay a few bucks and help the band out. This is proof of what experience and great songwriting brings to a band and Revelation has all that and more. 9/10

Myspace

Its been a hell of a few months for Canadian Doom and Sludge and here is another CD to add to the ever growing list of killer Canadian releases. "Dopethrone" in March 2008 as a completely D.I.Y. project but quickly formed into a fully fledged band, the band members are Vincent on guitar and vocals, Thomas on drums and Vyk playing bass guitar. With a name like "Dopethrone", they don't win any points for originally and the music itself is very much in the vein of Bongzilla, Weedeater and Sleep but there is a big difference. Where as Bongzilla battered your brains out with long repetitive riffing, Dopethrone actually keep the songs pretty short and have a almost catchy appeal. Obviously the band are a pack of weed-worshiping maniacs and like Bongzilla, they use a few spoken word samples to drive that point home but its the riffs, the great sound and concise song arrangement that make this such a great release. From the opening title track "Demonsmoke" with the spoken word sample about a woman buying some "Colombian", you pretty much know what you are in for but don't ride them off as just another rip-off stoner band because they have the riffs and more. The riffing has a hazy, old school groove that is more 70's than the likes of the other bands i previously mentioned. There is where the catchy element comes in, yes the sound is fat and heavy but there is a instant hook that comes with every track on here.

"Wizard's Sleeve" changes between big stoner grooves and some almost blue-grass style picking and the start/stop arrangement is very effective and pulverizing. "Spirit Ruiner" is filled with more thick grooves and more spoken word samples and the vocals are spewed forth in a typical Mike "Muleboy" Makela style but vocalist Vincent delivers it with a touch more demonic malice. Track four "Abraxas" is the odd tune of the bunch, a great tune in its own right but it sounds a little different from the rest of the album. "Psychic Vampire" and "Blood Boiler" are two of the best tracks on the album, the former is actually the longest track on the album at 5 minutes. It might sound funny but i find to listen to songs so short these days seeing as most Doom/Sludge bands do tend to drag things out as long as possible. This hurts the album a little in my opinion because a good riff deserves to be played over and over again, sometimes on this album you feel ripped off by the fact that songs end too quickly. "Power Violence Forever" strikes as being the weakest track on Demonsmoke but its in and out in just a couple of minutes. The album ends with "Legalize Murder", more thick heavy grooves are in abundance and its a fine way to finish what is a really short album that is more like a ep than a full length album.

Rating this album is difficult, its not original at all but still it kills with great grooves and a excellent production. The songs are great but at the same time seem too short and a little un-finished, the vocals are awesome but they have been done many times before. It would be so easy to say fuck it and give this a 10 but that wouldn't be too accurate in judging the album as a whole. Having made that observation, it must be said that if riffs make a album then this is one of the best albums released this year. Seeing as this band is fairly new, they have a incredible amount of potential to be a monster within the Stoner Doom Sludge scene if they can established a sound more of their own. Load your bong and give them a listen. 8.5/10

www.myspace.com/dopethronemafia

Huata are a French band formed in 2006 who after many line-up changes have finally settled on a stable line-up in 2009. The band is made of Carcinos (guitar and vocals), Vkng Jzz (bass) and Coco (drums). Member Vkng Jzz is also plays in other French bands including The Arm Of The Dirty Rabbit, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs. They play deeply distorted sludge doom in the vein of Electric Wizard, Church of Misery, Coven, Pentagram as well as Weedeater, Earthride and Ramesses. The music is hardly original but its real good powerful stoner doom metal and the lyrical is provocative to say the least. The subject matter includes Josef Fritzl and his Hitler youth, necrophilia, the destruction of the world and even some reference to the killing of hippies. The band is promoting their releases on myspace and offers their debut 2008 EP as a free download, click on the link on the bottom of this review and you will find the download embedded in the header of their page. The ep was Russian label Quagmire limited to 66 tapes. It was also distributed in France through the label Throatruiner records. The ep is supposed to be pressed on CD but its still available as a free download.

Huata is a Celtic, Breton word, one of whose meanings is "hunting witches" so that gives you some idea of where this band is coming from. The band is already getting a reputation for being a incredibly loud live band and the songs on here are made with excessive volume in mind. The guitar sounds are thicker than molasses especially the bass which is one of the heaviest bass sounds i have heard this year. The riffs are all built around huge amounts of fuzz and distortion but its not all slow doom, some of this stuff simply shreds in a stoner doom kind of way. The overall sound is pure vintage but pushed to the limits of sonic depravity, if Church Of Misery had of existed in the early 70's, they might have sounded like this. The production is dirty and raw, this type of production would hurt most bands but its suits Huata just right. There is no weak tracks on here, they are all great tunes but "Josef Fritzl Syndrom" and "Alchemist Reborn" stand out as being classic tracks. It is interesting that within the wall of sonic bliss they create there is also some strong melodies trying to push through although you may not notice it as the sound is so crushing at times. Its all over in about 30 minutes and it will leave you devastated, fans of Church Of Misery will love this. This was recorded over a year ago so a full length album can't be far away, i can't wait to hear what they come up with. If its anything like this, it will be one of the albums of the year. 9/10

www.myspace.com/huatastonerband

If there ever was a mystery band, its The Wizar’d from Tasmania, Australia. It is close to impossible to find out any informative information about the band, the band members don't use their real names and they come from one of the most obscure places on earth which is Tasmania. Sorry to all those that live there but face it, its no man's land. I have been there many times and to think a band like this lives and plays this music there is amazing. They must scare the crap out of people down there as this state of Australia is not exactly known for its love of heavy music. I have had this album for about a year after a friend sent me a downloaded version of the album but i finally got the real CD so i thought its about time they got a review for it. They have a complete D.I.Y approach to their music and seem to love being as underground as possible so maybe that is why info, especially interviews is so hard to come by. They have a garage Doom approach and the vocals are not exactly classy, in fact they have a snotty punk sound but that adds to the charm and character of the songs. This is mostly slow, traditional doom with pretty shitty production to be honest but somehow it seems to suit them just fine. Not many bands can release something that sounds so bad production wise but make it sound like such a tasty piece of Doom. The band takes the influences of early Cathedral, Reverend Bizarre and mix it up with early 80's British Metal sounds, at times the music sounds like a Doom version of Cirith Ungol but with punky vocals.

The album starts with "Horned Lord" and the Sabbathian riffs are right there, the album only gets better though. Second cut, "Witchwither" really highlights the singer's warbling vocals and it nearly kills the track at times but this is some classic Doom with killer riffs. The singer goes by the name of "Ol' Rusty Vintage Wizard Master", that had me cracking up when i first read it but even though this dude isn't very well versed in the craft of singing, his voice has a unique charm about it. The CD really starts to deliver the goods by the third track "Infernal Wizardry", it begins with a b-movie incantation over feedback before it erupts into a orgy of what sounds like drunken Doom kids just having fun. The singer does his best angered, tormented vocals and despite the average production, it is still delivered with some real power. "Depressive Holiday" has the vocalist muttering in the most monotone voice you can imagine but the music delivers on every level. From this point on, a more of a Electric Wizard feeling begins to emerge in some of the parts. This track crawls along for nearly 10 minutes but holds your attention right to the end. "Crushing Gothic Slime" is perhaps the most throw-away track on the album and beware of the fairly cheesy lyrics on this one. "Gloomwing" comes and goes without you even noticing its there or that is what happens to me where i hear it. "Plague Ship Of Doom" is another slow burner and is pretty solid but not a major highlight but the next and last track of the album kills. "The Megalomaniac" starts off classic riff and moves into a uptempo groove after a series of strange vocal and guitar effects. Where it goes after that is one hell of a warped journey into drug-induced Doom. At times like a few of the tracks on here it wanders but its riddled with some truly cool but weepy guitar leads, along with some very memorable Doom riffs that Iommi himself would have been happy recording.

The band is undoubtedly at their best when the riffs and grooves are old school , and the vocals are dirty. "Horned Lord", "Infernal Wizardry" and "The Megalomaniac" definitely stand out as the album's high-points. I know a lot of The Wizar'd's material is rehashed for releases so how old or new are the songs, i have no idea. There was a real buzz about this band about a year ago with a video getting around of a entire live set, i think it still exists if you Google it. What has happen since then is a mystery but that sums up this band, that is a pity because this is a great album despite a couple of clunkers and poor production values. They used to have a Myspace but i can no longer find it, their official site is dead which leaves their record company's Rusty Axe website and that tells you next to nothing about the band. Some bands love to be obscure, this band seems to live for it. The band is worthy of attention, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for them, that is if they are even still together. If you know anything, let me know as i haven't the time to Google band names all day.  Until then, let's just call Infernal Wizardry a record well-suited for doom aficionado's everywhere. 8.5/10 

 

Funeral Circle is a Doom band hailing from Vancouver, Canada and have released their first official ep courtesy of Miskatonic Records. I heard a earlier demo from them and while the songs were great, the production was too thin for the music to leave any lasting impact. Things have turned around now because this is a beast of the ep with good production and things can only get better for this band who has some huge potential to be a monster within the Doom scene. The band is made up of a guitarist/singer who goes by the name of The Grand Inquisitor, Pilgrim who also plays Guitars, Malphas on bass and Patriarch playing drums. Whats unique about this band is the range of styles of Doom they covered, within the 30 minutes or so of this CD you will sounds similar to Candlemass, Pentagram, The Lamp Of Thoth, Paul Chain, Saint Vitus, Witchfinder General, Solstice and sometimes you will hear this all within the one song. The first two tracks, "Homunculus" and "Legions Invictus" are in the epic doom style similar to the likes of Candlemass but with a original twist. The vocalist, The Grand Inquisitor gives the songs some powerful and inspiring vocals and his lead playing shows a good understanding of vibrato and phrasing. Something that would make Tony Iommi proud. The rhythm section propels the tunes along that make you stand up and take notice, may even give you the chills up the spine like all good Doom Metal should do.

"Legions Invictus" is exceptionally arousing,  similar to The Lamp Of Thoth's best work in as it features some well conceived and executed spoken word passages. "Sinister Sacrilege" kicks up the pace a little sounding like something out of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal era, with twists and turns this track sounds like it was made to be a opener or closer to a live set. While the tempo is pushed up a gear on this one, the track still retains the Doom sound and feel throughout. The track with the rather cheesy title "Fist of Satan" is more N.W.O.B.H.M esque style with some more up - tempo with a great riff and the chorus is especially catchy. The ep ends with a cover of an obscure 80’s Canadian band known as Lord Ryur. The song is called "Pact with the Sinner" and it fits in well with the rest of the cd. Sounding a little like Witchfinder General, this is pure old school Doom Metal Rock. Its great to see so much good stuff coming out of Canada right now. Funeral Circle are a band worth paying attention to with this EP. The songs are great and the musicianship is there, and they have a killer vocalist. If you’re into traditional Doom Metal and if you are a old school Doom fan you will dig the hell out of this baby. Can't wait for a full length album to come out from this band, now that is something to look forward to. 9/10

www.myspace.com/funeralcircle

This CD has been hanging around my house for quite some time waiting to be reviewed, i kept on putting it off because i was hoping one more spin would get me hooked on this Swedish band. I am a big fan of Swedish Stoner Rock so i real excited about hearing this but after some 20 spins of the disc, they strike me as being a little too generic of the Stoner Rock sound. They are not bad at all but you find yourself saying haven't i heard this before somewhere? The band follows the same path as other Stoner greats from that country like Dozer, Truckfighters and so on. Big meaty riffs inspired by 70's hard rock legends with some harmonica and organ thrown in places to fill out the sound. The band members are two members of Half Man, vocalist Jan Bengtsson and bass player Patric Carlsso and three from Mothercake, drummer Thomas J?nsson and guitarists Patrik Berglin and Petter Englund. "Under the Volcano" sets things off in a positive manner with some fine stoner riffing so at first you get  yourself strapped in for some killer Stoner workouts but you soon find, its all a little familiar. They are not ripping anyone off, its just too much like so many other bands in the genre. Jan Bengtsson has a great voice in the Soundgarden type vein and the guitar work is polished and is very tight. They have a bluesy feel along with enough fuzz to satisfy most Stoner Rock fans and the band delivers a decent amount of energy throughout the album.

The best tracks all seem to be in the middle to the ending of the CD, tunes like "In the Dark" and "The Hermit" are major highlights with some serious grooves. They are straight up, no bull Stoner Rock tunes so if that is your thing you will dig those two songs. "A Journey" is another cool song with more "no frills" Stoner grooves and is certainly catchy and heavy, the band reminds me of a cross between Greenleaf and The Bought Low at times seeing they have a blues based groove most of the time. The problem i have is in the rest of the album where the band lacks its own personality, its good stuff but way too generic and too traditional for its own good. Being a debut album you can forgive them for maybe playing it safe and they should develop more of their own sound in the next couple of years. For now though this is a album that has some genuine killer moments but just as many stock-standard moments where they sound un-inspired or just sound too much like other bands. It still proves however that Sweden is still a hot-spot for Stoner/Desert Rock bands, how that country continues too produce so many bands with that sound is amazing and Skanksa Mord have that sound indeed. It will be interesting to see where the band takes that sound in the future, definitely a band to watch out for. 6/10

www.myspace.com/skanskamordmusic

Elsewhere are a Italian Gothic/Doom band that combines the influences of My Dying Bride, Opeth, Paradise Lost, Katatonia and insert sounds reminiscent of bands from the great Italian Progressive Rock scene. The band is made up of Martino(vocals), Riccardo( piano), Edoardo(bass) and Luciano(guitars). This 3 track EP explores relationships, the difficulty to live within modern society, anguish, pain and the constant quest to find an utopian solution to death. As a band they have a sound that is a little different in structure than the usual Goth/Doom outfit as they have a lot of Progressive Rock touches and even some guitar work that is verging on blues at times or at least that's how i hear it. The EP starts off with the epic "A Worthless Corpse" that combines a slow and haunting melody that is full of emotion. There is a fine balance between the heavy extended riff work and some delicate moody sections including the piano intro which sets the mood for this 14 minute track. The song does a pretty good job at keeping your attention despite being a little long and the instrumental role-play show a great deal of versatility.

Second track "Forsaking" is perhaps the most "prog-rock" of the three songs with some interesting tempo changes and acoustic parts. They produce a kind of cinematic drama within this tune and while it sounds a little too much like Opeth in parts, it sounds like the strongest tune on the EP. The final track is "We Are Water" and this is Doom at its most intimate, very melancholic but also showing some subtle diversity. This is one of the better bands i have heard this year playing this style but i found the vocals to be a little weak, not bad but lacking some emotional depth that these songs need. The production is excellent and the playing is very good but does the world need another band like My Dying Bride? I would think not but at least they are trying something a little different. 8/10

www.myspace.com/musicfromelsewhere

During the early-mid 1980s, bands from England and the United States contributed much to the formation of Traditional Doom Metal as a distinct genre. In 1982, English pioneers Witchfinder General released their debut album Death Penalty. During 1984 and 1985, three American pioneers also released their first albums Saint Vitus released their eponymous album, Trouble released Psalm 9 and Pentagram released Relentless. The Swedish Candlemass would also prove influential with their first record Epicus Doomicus Metallicus in 1986. Traditional Doom was on a high at this point in history and then it pretty much died, thankfully a few bands like Solitude Aeturnus brought it back in the consciousness of Doom Metal fans but it has remained underground ever since but maybe that is about to change with bands like Dark Covenant. The genre needs a much needed boost and this is a band that could do just that, they have released a 4 track promo EP and it has all the trademarks of a classic Traditional Epic Doom Metal.

The band concentrates on classic Doom Metal subject matter like ancient mythologies, the esoteric and other epic themes but its not just the lyrical concepts that puts this band firmly in the "classic mold", its also the stylish, finely tuned musicians. The EP starts with "Forever Amongst The Ruins" that begins with a very "Candlemass" sounding riff capped off with the stirring vocal work of Vjohrrnt Wodansson who has a commanding thundering voice. The track has all the elements needed for a epic Doom track, great riffing, a acoustic interlude, double bass drum pummeling and some soaring lead guitar lines. Track two is no slouch in the epic Doom department either, its called "Black Sun Rising" and the crunching riff and melodic note runs would make Solitude Aeturnus proud. Once again there is more exciting lead breaks from guitarist Evil Lair and its quite obvious that this band takes their music very seriously as the musicianship is top shelf stuff. The band has playing in one form or another since the early 90's and it shows as their instrumental skills are excellent. "Black Sun Rising" is nearly 7 minutes long but it actually seems short as it is so well constructed in terms of arrangement. The song abruptly ends leaving you wanting more like there should be a part two to this epic tale.

Next up is "Perennial Solitude" and out of the four tracks, this one might be the best at showcasing the brilliant guitar work of both Evil Lair and JS. Both highly talented players who have a obvious flair for playing this genre of metal. The track like all the tracks are a finely tuned balanced between melodic Doom metal and technical ability without going too overboard in either direction. The final track is "Black Raven" and has one of the heavier riffs on the CD but its also combined beautifully with somber quieter moments that add to the intensity of the song. Like "Black Sun Rising" it has a un-expected ending which leaves you wanting more and also makes you wander if there was some music left on the cutting room when it was recorded. The fade out conclusion seems to be a after-thought but all the songs on here are the type of songs that could easily be extended into very long pieces of music. The band has a full length album in the works and is going to be one of the most eagerly awaited albums of 2010. Its not too often in the world of Doom you hear a band with this much musical ability seeing as the current Doom scene is awash with sludge, stoner riffing bands and you certainly don't hear guitar solos as good as this too often either. They are a band that will appeal to old-school Doom Metal fans and fans of Traditional Melodic Metal but i would hope all "Doom Fans" will take some time out to hear this band. This is only the beginning for the band but with material like this and musicianship of this quality, the future of Doom Metal is in good hands. Like it proudly states in the inside of the CD, "Face Your Imminent Doom". 10/10

www.myspace.com/darkcovenantdoom

One of the draw-backs of getting CD's sent to you every week for reviews is sometimes a CD gets lost in the endless pile of CD's or simply gets forgotten about. One look at my CD collection and you can see how easily this could happen, this is the case of Clagg's third album "Lord Of The Deep" where too many CD's and too little time forced me to put this on hold for a while. I totally regret it now as this is a great slab of sonic Doom from a band that is one of Australia's heaviest bands ever. Its been two years since they released "Where Dead Gods Sleep" which was so heavy it was like they were searching for the ultimate brown note noise. That album was incredibly, oppressively thick and slow and this album might be a little faster overall but the heaviness is still there intact. The band has been plagued with a lot of line-up changes recently but its great to see they have lost nothing in terms of heaviness or sonic brutality.

The album starts with the 16 minute "Carrion" and in typical Clagg style it is in the vein of Iron Monkey, Grief etc. There is not much in terms of riffs but there is a oddly faster middle section to break things up a bit. With bands like this there is a tendency to get a little tedious and the last half of the track does just that. Its still all good but they might have been wise to shave a few minutes off the track but thankfully there is a great solo towards the end of the track which makes it worth the journey. The title track which is split into two parts called "They Dream Fire" and "At the Rising of the Storm" is more concise than the opener despite running over 15 minutes. "Buried" has a killer riff but its a real effort to sit through as once again, one killer riff in a such a long track makes it a demanding stretch.

"The Harvest" is different from the rest of the album because the sludge noise is replaced by traditional doom and the vocals take a un-expected twist. The raspy growls are replaced by some crooning which gives singer Scotty a chance to show he has some melody to his pipes as opposed to his usual hollering style. The final track "Devour the Sun" takes the band back to its usual sludge fest and once again things do tend to drag on a bit but it is saved by some scorching solo guitar work. Despite the fact that most of the songs do run over their desired running times, i still think this is a slight improvement over "Where Dead Gods Sleep" and therefore is a ideal way to start checking out this band if you haven't done so as yet. 8.5/10

Clagg @ Myspace.com

Megasus from Providence, RI all work for Harmonix, the video game company behind Guitar Hero and Rock Band and i don't if that does their credibility any good or not but there you go. They did start off as a one-off project formed to contribute a track for Guitar Hero II but they have become a fully working band with a debut album out on 20 Buck Spin Records but this sounds like the type of record that Rise Above Records would normally put out. They have been given the Doom tag but this is closer to High On Fire than it is to Electric Wizard. It has a heavy layer of psychedelic influence, with sludgy guitars and mildly distorted vocals.The production reminds me of High On Fire’s Surrounded By Thieves, with a muddy guitar sound but drums sure pack a punch. At times the drums almost seem too loud in the mix and they tend to over-shadowed the riffs but that's just a minor detail. The album has got one problem and that is its inconsistency, when its good it is very good but there is a couple of weak tracks on here that really hurt the album seeing the whole thing is over in under 40 minutes. Having said that there is still a lot to like about this album which has a more modern sound and influences than a lot of other bands in the Doom/Stoner Rock scene.

The one thing that makes them a little different is they embrace the old subject matter from old classic metal like mythology, wizards etc. Maybe they spend a lot of time listening or reading Dio lyrics but the songs are total old school in the lyrical department but everything else sounds more modern. "Red Lottery" might be the best of the slower tracks sounding a little like a Pentagram track. The track "Megasus" is available for download in Rock Band and if you are going to name a song after your band it better be a good tune. Thankfully this track is indeed good, the song has some frenetic energy with drumming that is reminiscent of High On Fire’s Des Kensel, with drum rolls all over the place. "Paladin vs. Berserker" has a good metal groove, Guitarist Ryan Lesser and bassist Paul Lyons are mostly in step, but Lyons seems way  higher in the mix which makes the sound un-balanced and add that to the loud crashing drums and it sounds a little messy in places.

"Ten Kingdoms" and "Hexes/Szaadek" are tracks that work pretty well and the performance of front-man Jason Kendall is at his peak during these two tracks. "Swords" and "Iron Mountain" come and go sounding like filler to me, not bad tracks at all but just a little aimless. The album was originally intended as a digital download but they did manage to find a company willing to press 200 copies of the album on vinyl. In conclusion, this not a album you will listen to everyday but there is enough good material on here for the occasional spin and the potential is there for better releases in the future. If you like a Doom sound that is played at faster than normal tempos for a so called Doom/Sludge/Stoner band, you may like this. At the end of the day, this left me a little confused. It’s a little too inconsistent of an album to be considered a classic, but the stronger tracks show that this is a band to keep tabs on. 7/10

Official Myspace

You could called Black Wreath a "super-group" keeping in mind the band consists of  Kim Larsen, (ex-Saturnus, Of The Wand And The Moon and others), Blazing Eternity's vocalist Peter Mesnickow and Whelm's bassist Dave Miller. With such a line up, you would think Black Wreath knows its stuff as far as melodic Doom Death Funeral Doom is concerned and they do. But the band takes things a bit further into the dark realms of Funeral Doom and often delivers a powerful, depressing and heavy dose of sad Funeral Doom of some real quality.

The album is made of four tracks, the last one being the most ambient one. The three first are very long and extremely heavy, not so much in sound but in emotional depth.

The vocals shift from heavy growls to half spoken, half mumbled voice. It tops a thick layer of mournful guitars' lines, monotonous and yet with lyrical sounding guitar lines . Songs have a dark but tranquil vibe, the deeply sad moods the band slowly spews forth will get stuck on your mind. The production is a bit distant, which certainly is a good idea considering the type of atmosphere they are trying to get across but at times some of it seems to be lacking certain dynamics and stifles the some of the melodies.  In some parts of the songs, there is some incredible tension that build and build but sadly there is no big endings which left me a little frustrated.

"The Black Holes of Your Mind" is the longest track at 15 minutes and is about as bleak as you can get.  The vocals here shift between a narrative tone and crushing growls, but after nearly 6 minutes of this the guitars begin to stray elsewhere, the pace slows even further almost to the point of stopping completely. There is a acoustic guitar interlude that while sparse and predictable, hits hard emotionally speaking and creates a unexpected folk metal atmosphere. "Nocturnal Dominion" follows, and lacks much of the vibe of the first track. This is 13 minutes of deep, meandering, cavernous doom metal that crawls like some monolithic beast, the sound is broken up with some keyboards and chimes that adds something different to a track that i found largely dull even for a Funeral Doom track.

"Solitude Rising (Missing All Exits)" the third track is again very long, at 14 minutes, but at least manages to sound original but trying something different for a Funeral Doom band. There is some very somber riffs and experimental little, fluttering bells and guitar lines. "Nidstong" closes the album with nearly 8 minutes of minimal rainfall, and dark, low-end piano sounds. It might sound great in a movie soundtrack but here it just serves up a very mundane, boring way to finish a album. When its good this album is awesome but when its dull, its reach for a Tylenol time. Search out the good parts though and you will be rewarded, the rest is just too much of a trip into nothingness. 6/10

www.myspace.com/blackwreath

Yidhra's 4 track promo ep is out and at only $5 it is a essential pick up for you doomsters who love traditional doom played with a sense of freshness. Even though they are playing a very traditional style of doom, the combination of a vocalist that doesn't really sound like anyone else and a rich full guitar sound with catchy riffs makes this ep irresistible. The CD opens with "The Lament Of Longinus" which some of you might have heard on the new Doom Metal Alliance sampler that is making the rounds at the moment. This song is in the vein of Saint Vitus at their very best, a slow intro section starts off the track in a haunting fashion before launching a huge riff. The guitar is thick but has a clean biting sound with the just right amount of fuzz. The track has a repetitive riff but at the halfway point in changes down a gear to a even slower tempo with some demented soloing that is twisted and eerie at the same time. The track then returns to the main riff to finish out the track. "Witch Queen" is up next, a Sabbath inspired doom riff kicks the track into pure doom and gloom atmosphere but the track really gets into gear when a the mid tempo section comes in. A stomping, head snapping power-metal riff to be sure but it shifts back and forth from that to total doom. The solo at around the 5 minute mark wails before they take it back to doomsville with that killer opening riff to round of a great track. "Ancient Ones" is more Saint Vitus style doom with a creeping riff line and spoken word type of singing before he returns to his bellowing vocals during the chorus. I really dig this dude's voice and like i mentioned before he somehow manages to sound original even though is vocal technique is a much used one. The guitar crunch is really on display on this track especially at 4 minutes into the song where there is a extra heavy emphasis on the guitar sound. Like all the tracks on here, production is real good and polished. Maybe the catchiest song on here is the last track "Conquest For Nova", the opening riff is instantly infectious and the rest of the song just grooves. Special mention must go again to the production and mix of this baby, everything is clear and powerful and even the drum sound pounds. A lot of drums tend to get buried in the mix of promo CD's but on here, they are right where they should be in the mix. The solo on "Conquest For Nova" is one of the highlights of the album, full of soaring melody and feeling. If they can get a sound like this on a promo EP, then a full length album should be on everyone's wanted list. I have heard dozens of promos this year and there has been some good ones and some shockers but this is the best promo released this year. In fact calling it a "promo" really doesn't do it justice, they are the best new band for 2009 in my opinion and that's a big call because this year has been a great year for doom but there is a freshness about this band that makes for repeated spins of the CD. Check them and this Ep out. 10/10

www.myspace.com/yidhra

Dark Trance is a one man band created by Dmitry Gubsky who does everything and its true that this guy is quite decent instrumentalist and programmer but this where this review might get a bit ugly. The band is primarily known as a black metal or dark metal band but the problem i had with this CD is he inserts different styles into the mix and for the most part it didn't work for me. When it works which is not very often in my opinion, it is pretty good. "Shadows Of Spirits" is evidence it can work in small doses, its a good mix of black meets doom metal but elsewhere things seem a little disjointed. At times it sounds like Cradle Of Filth, at other times Marilyn Manson and then at other times it sounds total black metal. There is some elements of doom thrown in but its so mixed up with other genres and influences, it sounds confused and it makes it hard to get into a vibe. The overall sound is a industrial version of black metal, not something i would normally listen to but i am not going to slag off this album just for that as i am sure a lot of people will get something out of this album. Highlights for me are the title track "Beyond The Gates Of Insanity", "Dreams Are Hollow" and the previously mentioned "Shadows Of Spirits", elsewhere the album left me cold and bored. I will say this though, this is a huge improvement over the previous album "Ghosts in the Shells" which i didn't like at all. That album was once described as "black metal for Hot Topic shoppers" and i think that was a fair description. There is a hell of a lot more depth in the songs on this album and the overall production and sound has made giant leaps forward but it still leaves me wanting more. Maybe its the programmed sounds but the computerized, industrial sounds just do it for me and never has but check it out for yourself. Like the old saying goes "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" and i am sticking to that on this one. 5/10

www.myspace.com/darktranceband

Silver Devil is a great stoner/ desert rock band from Gävle/Söderhamn, in Sweden. The current line-up is Anders Lövstrand - vocals, Clas Andersson and Otto Molin on guitars, Erik Bergkvist- bass and Marcus Ström - drums. This is their second demo in a year or so and if the first demo tweaked your appetite then this new demo will do so even more. The first demo was great, no question about it but the new one sees the band sounding even more focused and precise. It is short and sweet but the three tracks all kick like the proverbial mule starting off with "Cactus Kicker" which has a good stomping stoner groove and their spaced out vocal sound. The thick warm fuzzy guitar sound sounds even more developed on this demo and also seems a little better produced. I mentioned in my last review for them that are coming from the Fu Manchu/Truckfighters school of stoner but the thing that sets them apart is the spacy vocal sound. They sound distant from the rest of the band which creates a other worldly effect. The second track "Control" is maybe the best example of this, along with the fuzzed out distorted riff that never stops its groovy swagger. The band play some intricate riffs for a stoner band but they are not short of some strong melodies either. Catchy yet powerful with a  swirling psyched out sound that surrounds you, you must have this on CD however to fully appreciate the wall of sound they have. Unless you have giant speakers on your computer, you wont get the full effect listening to tracks straight off their Myspace page, it just doesn't do the songs justice. The third and final track "Lies" is a equally a sonic trip as the other two tracks, more great riffing, spaced out guitar sounds but without resorting to endless guitar effects. This is demo is similar to the first demo but this one seems to be slightly more original and it seems the band is really discovering their own sound. As a demo its a bit short, its all over in around 10 minutes but its a fun 10 minutes that shows a band that is ready to show the world that you don't have to live in the desert to play this music with real passion, skill and finesse. If there is ever a band that needs a full length album out in the stoner rock genre, it is this one. 10/10

www.myspace.com/silverdevilsweden