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BELOW
Across The Dark River

Metal Blade (2014)
Rating: 8/10

Not to be confused with the obscure, late 90s and also Swedish band of the name moniker, and also not to be confused with two US doom bands of the same name, this quintet began life back in 2011 while under the influence of classic doom metal bands Candlemass and, of course, Black Sabbath.

There once was a time back in the 80s and early 90s that doom metal (and I don’t mean “stoner metal”) was all the rage, with bands such as Count Raven, Solitude Aeturnus and the likes extremely popular on the scene alongside the more obvious bigger names. In fact, the scene became rather cluttered, and yet when one looks back we can only yearn for such times as so many bands today attempt to not just recreate but jump on unhealthy bandwagons in their quest for occult rock domination.

Below, however, are cut from the same cloth as Candlemass and the like and while it’s obvious that they are influenced by them, it’s still nice to hear a bit of modern doom metal sound so bloody old!

Funereal guitar tones, aching yet melodic vocals of foreboding, plodding, cement-filled drums and a bass carved out of an old oak tree are all the rage on this debut eight-tracker, by a band whose talent has been enabled to shine at the hands of producer Andy LaRocque, who is better known for his axe-work with King Diamond.

It’s no surprise then that there are hints of King Diamond on this heavyweight release as Berg and Paud’s monolithic guitar yawns provide the perfect gloomy backdrop for Zeb’s peals of doom. This is classic doom metal that trudges, chugs and plods, yet never brings on slumber due to its perfectly crafted songs. Okay, so there are a number of riffs you may have heard previously on those old Sabbath records, but it’s hard not to mourn the passing of the drudgery that is ‘Trapped Under Ground’ and the morose entity that is ‘Bid You Farewell’.

These are mighty slabs of sullen metal which rarely deviate from their premeditated path, but those with fervour for creaky, overflowing riffs of blackness and ancient narration of ominous character must surely take a venture into this vast forest of gnarled, leering trees inhabited by the spirits of those who decades ago ploughed similar furrows of doom. ‘Ghost Of A Shepherd’ is certainly an ode to King Diamond with its creeping intro, while ‘Portal’ reeks of early Iron Maiden in its bellow.

Lyrically atmospheric, Below are a true doom metal band not relying on stone-baked irritability or trend. In their passion for despondency and mysticism they’ve achieved what they set out originally to do; to write and release an album in tribute of Candlemass’ Nightfall (1987), Black Sabbath’s Headless Cross (1989) and King Diamond’s ghoulish Conspiracy (1989), and when you’ve got these three albums as an influence you can’t go wrong.

Neil Arnold

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