A long time coming as usual, here are some new stuff and some old, eternal thanxs as always to I Hate for endless support.

Recordreviews Volume 31

Black Mountain (US) In The Future (JagJaguwar) This is an old one released last year. It took some time for me to get a hold of it. Another combo in the new American Retro style like Jex Thoth, The Black Angels, Ogre etc. Black Mountain have since the relase of In The Future done quite some gigging including sharing the stage with Graveyard. In The Future proves to be an album that lasts, the more I hear it I find it pretty challenging to listen to, even though there is those obvious psychedelic influences from the past they have made a pretty modern up-to-date piece of work, from heavy crunching material to more mellow moods and softer passages. Compare to those named acts have Black Mountain a more strict guideline, but those suprising inputs they create at times makes In The Future a pretty good travel through colourful landscapes and mournful mindtrips. Info/Order www.jagjaguwar.com

Claes Cleve & Sasquatch (Swe) Same ( Backwood) Backwood a new label from Karlstad introduce themselves with this combo. To begin with this is not a great opening in my point of view. I am very openminded concerning music and art but this is pretty much a sleeping pill. There is so much talents out there that still aren’t signed that makes their own releases on Myspace etc. It makes me worried that a combo like this with nothing to offer have been signed. Its basically one track that saves the day Up on a hill, that have at least some bitterness to it and a decent melody. Musically they trying to sound like U2 without success, the singer have for instance a pretty massive Bono complex, also they are trying to imitate some of the new country/Americana styles out there also that fails out. To make an album it has be personal, emotional, good material etc, it has to offer something that is unexpected, this is way way too empty handed. Good luck to Backwood with the next release. Info/Order www.backwoodmusic.se

Forsaken(Malta) After The Fall ( I Hate) A combo I have been keeping an eye on since the beginning. Maltas best band of all and certainly one of the topnames of the European Doomcombos. If you dig the new Candlemass with Rob Lowe, I bet you will dig After The Fall. I find this a lot better actually. Not cause I have been a long time fan of Forsaken but they are really challenging to listen to cause they progress with every recording they release. Ever since that famous Ep Virtues Of Sanctity they have gone from the basic old school Doomriffs to be a very tight and solid unit with a unique sound, epic Doom in combination with excellent tight Metal. After The Fall is by far the most mournful release from Forsaken, even though I am very excited by their previous releases. This is heavy as a load of ton of bricks, a mighty production and a devastating format. It’s a great relief that I Hate have taken Forsaken under their wings cause they definitely deserve it. After The Fall will break down the doors of Doom, that is a certain feeling that I have, I also feel that that this will open the doors for Forsaken for not only the Metal market but also to those that wouldn’t be into metal or doom at all, cause this is a very progressive album, good use of fantastic harmonies and melodies and a very clever orchestration of everyone involved. All the thumbs up for After The Fall. Info/Order www.ihate.se Forsaken www.myspace.com/forsakenmalta

Memory Driven (US) Relative Obscurity ( I Hate) For those who remember Oversoul and COR that have been featured on these pages before, this is the new combo fronted by Dennis Cornelius, whose stint in Revelation, Place Of Skulls and Doomstone have given over 20 years of experience in the Doom Metal service. Along with the members of Oversoul and COR and the pre-name Dwell Within Chris Greenway and Pat Garrett along with new guitarist Dylan Richardson have they formed Memory Driven, the name of the old demo that got them a deal with Brainticket once. I Hate is the new label they have landed on and here is Relative Obscurity, a following of the same style that Oversoul and COR had but this is a lot more progressive and spooky in my mind. Still the trademark carries with ceremonial Doom Metal that certainly are effective and demanding. This is a atmospheric piece of work, excellent arrangements and varied dimensions like previous items from these guys, but this one is definitely more aggressive, mournful and haunting in style. I also find Relative Obscurity a very modern up-to-date metal album, challenging with a tight wellshaped soundpicture. A piece of disc that will please underground fans along with those with a open attitude to music as well. Info/Order www.ihate.se

Minotaur (Ger) God May Show You Mercy..We Will Not ( I Hate) Fast as a shark to quote the old Accept gem. This combo formed already in 1983, made a few demos and got included on a Roadrunner comp called Teutonic Invasion part 1, a comp that I am not familiar with even though I have heard a lot from Roadrunner through the years. Minotaur issued on their own Power Of Darkness 1988 that got pretty good amount of attention back in those days, since then according to the bio they have issued some more stuff. But they have not been active for 20 years, they reformed with the same producer as they had back then. Minotaur play old school trash that is no question, faster than a speed of light very much like the other classic german combos Kreator, Sodom and Destruction. I Hate have taken them under their wings and God May… holds no boundaries, this is a moshing piece for an altered state of mind. Even though there is very fast and furious material there is also like german trashers some use of melody in it, they even do a surprise version of Wasps old controversial hit at the time Animal ( Fuck like A Beast) a pretty cool version but that in my mind lacks a bit of power. Overall a tight, solid piece of effort with a pretty cool soundpicture, but to be a bit negative I would want it to be a more heavier outburst but that is just my mind. God May Show You… is a forceful offering and a nice return. Info/Order www.ihate.se Minotaur www.myspace.com/minotaurtrashers

The Movements (Swe) Grains Of Oats ( Alleycat) This album came out 2006 originally, this one is the re-issue with 2 bonustracks. The Movements, a very exciting psychedelic garage combo from Gothenburg with a sound that certainly tear down any wall that is possible. Their new album is included below. I have been told that they have a new album under their belts that will be out this fall. Grains Of Oats is a charmer of an album, a great mix of the early US garage style MC 5, Stooges, 13^th Floor Elevators and a supreme of psychedelic mayhem like Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Standells and The Seeds. Organbased, great harmonies, very complexed, a intensive mix of muscle and melody. The first time I saw them I was stunned, this was a great sumup of a lot of combos that I have been into for years. Grains Of Oats was the starting point, with this album they got invited to go down to Europe and since then they have build a pretty good springboard for themselves. The Movements have nothing in common with Soundtrack Of Our Lifes that is way more commercial even though they are in the same musical field, this is more aggressive, more attitude and more hitting. If you haven’t heard them before you are in for a nice surprise, a wonderfully piece of offering. A must!!. Info/Order www.themovements.com Alleycat www.alleycatrecords.se

The Movements ( Swe) The World, The Flesh And The Devil ( The Movements) The story continues… The latest album by The Movements takes up where the first album left, this is even deeper, more emotional, more complexed and actually a bit darker in places. In some numbers they also give salute to Hawkwind, I find some connections here to the old Spacelords. There is of course still a psychedelic mayhem over the album, but also more spaced out as stated and also I find the album to be more dynamic and spiritual compare to the first album, great choirs, great arrangements, wonderful instrumentations, the dimensions in there are absolutely awesome. The first album was more of a hard hitting slammering outburst are the follower actually a much more heavy atmospheric piece of work. The Movements have gained an even stronger impression with this release and the next album will be a thrill to hear. They have also issued an EP previous, buy that as well if there is any copies left. 2 great albums right here, I am very very excited over the sound that this combo creates, this is music for the openminded. A must order !!! Info/Order www.themovements.com

Pombagira (UK) Black Axis Abraxas ( Withered Hand) For all those sinisters and corebashers this is something for you. A Londonbased combo Pombagira have issued their second disc with that nutty title Black Axis Abraxas, a bit weird if you ask me. This is death defining core Doom with basically no actual suprises. This UK combo are following the steps of their countrymates My Dying Bride, Anathema and several other coreDoomsters. I have been playing it back to back a few times musically its alright but those vocals, it makes me pretty bored as usual if you have seen other reviews on those pages previous. Those guys have got rave reviews in their native mags Kerrang, Metal Hammer and Terrorizer, I am not surprised cause those guys celebrates every mourner there is. I am not slagging off Pombagira or anything, they try to verify their material which is 2 very long seering mayhems of devastating tragically graveyard trips, but its not really happening for me. My wish for the next release is to add some more dimensions and arrangements to it and make it more dynamic. This goes down to a pretty bleak funeral in a cloudy haze of grey. Info/Order www.witheredhandrecords.com Pombagira www.myspace.com/pombagiradoom

Rosemary (Swe) This Is No Damn Disco, This Is A War ( Blindfoldead) What a great title !! Rosemary from way out west, Gothenburg is a new sensational powertrip that really kick that ass, formed just a few years back since then they have made a demo White Mind issued 2007 and a feature on a comp Unchained Classic Rock Volume 1 unleashed 2007, this is the latest offering, a more updated version with more material will be out shortly. I have actually just recently discovered them at the latest Slottskogen Goes Progressive festival where they rocked up a storm and really shaked with their charming boogie retro style, a classic Powertrio that had quite a effect on me when I saw them here, this is a half an hour set but the same disc will be updated as stated. Following the likes of Graveyard, Movements and Horisont for example it’s a great pleasure to hear such a powerhouse combo. Playing the disc, there is a link to Space Probe Taurus, a great simple intensive varied performance. The disc is unleashed by their management Blindfoldead, I pass this to serious labels that Rosemary deserves a fair share of attention, they really have the quality and the potential to hit it with right backing. Hearing this wonderful piece and after their killer live performance I am now a huge fan of Rosemary, a slammering fuzzy brilliant act that really kicks it right in. You must hear this!!!!. Info/Order Blindfoldead www.myspace.com/blindfoldead Rosemary www.myspace.com/rosemaryrock

Root ( Czech) Zjeveni ( I Hate) I Hate Records delivers a huge package here with 4 albums including re-releases of 3 previous items and the new one The Book. First up are the opening album Zjeveni that originally came out 1991. Root formed way back in 1987, made a few demos until they issued this one. Root, cause of their clear satanic image caused quite some turmoils back in the old Czechoslovakia, they were as eastern combos was before the curtain fell ignored and slagged off by that conservative political system was built back then. It was naturally a huge scandal compare to what combos in western Europe got. But Root became instant figures in the up and coming Czech black metal movement and still is 22 years later, now with this package they will certainly be more well known. Playing Zjeveni that also includes a couple of live examples its easy to draw the line to the early 1980s legends Hellhammer, Venom and Bathory cause of the primitive outburst but surprisingly its also quite progressive at times so it ends up a mix of a pretty sober and distinct metal piece. There are some classical invents in it too and it also gives at times a doomish feel to it. I am actually surprised over Zjeveni, a intelligent first opus.

Root ( Czech) Hell Symphony ( I Hate) Next opus from Root after the first Zjeveni are Hell Symphony released originally 1992. Also includes some bonus live material. A very different piece compare to Zjeveni, this one is leaning towards the Nordic Black Metal scene that was happening around that time, Mayhem, Burzum, Darkthrone, Dissection etc. most of the material is pretty influenced of that time but the profile stands on its own anyhow, a couple of suprises is in here too, some riffs, chords and progressive sounds and figures makes it pretty original at times. But overall I find Hell Symphony too much in that vein as I stated, Zjeveni is more original in my mind but this is a different trip, the old school ghosts from the early 80s are still there but I find it to be a more Norwegian type BM album than a Root album, but some excitement is on here.

Root (Czech) The Temple Of The Underworld ( I Hate) The last one out of the re-issues are The Temple Of The Underworld. This is my fave of those 3 pieces, there are still some BM hints in there but those are pretty faded for a classical, progressive and more fundamental outburst from Root, this is very much a progressive Doom album, just check out stuff like The Solitude a classic epic piece, there is more great material here. I also find The Temple Of The Underworld more of a concept piece, all the stories are joining in together very nice and smoothly, a very enjoyable album to hear, the soundpicture have a atmospheric symphonical haunting spirit for the majority, there are a lot of suprises in here, a good use of different dynamics, clever arrangements and dimensions. Definitely a piece that will last in my mind. I wouldn’t call it a classic or unique by any way but it is a great piece,varied and pretty cool to hear. Some more livestuff is on bonus here.

Root (Czech) The Book ( I Hate) The last one in this package of Root back catalogue is The Book released originally 1999 added with some bonus stuff demos and some unissued numbers. This was a gap from The Temple Of The Underworld (1992), they did Kärgeräs ( 96) before this one. After hearing this package I have become a Root fan and especially The Book really proves their skills. This is the most doomish album of all in this package, the soundpicture the performance and the arrangements, it really comes out very dynamic I would say, also like previous progressive, fundamental and very atmospheric and varied. Sometimes it recalls the classic Bathory albums like Hammerheart and Twillight Of The Gods with that same type of bombastic haunting wall of sound, it also feels very symphonical. A very clever and challenging piece to hear. Beside Kärgeräs (96) have Root also unleashed Black Seal (01) Madness Of The Graves (03) and Daemon Viam Invenient (07), they have started work on their new album that will come out next year. I Hate have made a great package here, Root is the most interesting combo I have come across from the Czech republic so far. If you don’t have them, this is a musthave. Info/Order www.ihate.se

Vulcano (Braz) Tales From The Black Book ( I Hate) Old veteran trashers Vulcano origins is from the early 80s, after releasing some material in their native Brazil they called it a day, until they reformed in the start of this millennium, in that period they were unactive they did various projects including doing covers of Creedence Clearwater Revival (!!!), there is no CCR in here. Playing the cd it has that vibe of those early trashing combos, Venom, Bathory, some underground early trashers and some old crunchy Hellhammer riffs. Tales Of The Black Book is the first major album they have issued and its not bad at all. I dig those early combos a lot back in the early days and I still do, even though I don’t find Vulcano that original, at least they have carved a nice piece of the moshing pie. Solid, stable and pretty entertaining. Info/Order www.ihate.se

Gabriel Lilliehook