Doom's Day: The Unholy

What am I supposed to say about the album cover on this one? I mean, look at that thing. I remember, back in the 80s, when Black Sabbath released Born Again, the album with the demon baby on the cover. To most people, the cover was understood to be an unfortunate choice. It was just ugly. Strangely, it was also laughable, campy in the worst possible way. In that tradition comes the cover to The Unholy. The picture is simple: a funky looking baby stares at the viewer, his eyes red, his mouth bloody, his fangs menacing. Juxtaposed to the evil tyke is a gothic structure with looming trees nearby. What does it all mean? Who knows, but the image is arresting and, in the blackest possible vein, kind of funny.

I certainly didn't know what to expect putting this album on, but I figured I'd get a healthy dose of doom; after all, the band is called "Doom's Day." What I discovered, all too quickly, was that the music on this thing is a little more interesting and, perhaps, a little more playful, than straight-up doom metal. I don't know what to call it, but the music reminds me a little of ghost, but nowhere near as poppy. It's more like rock meets metal meets Halloween. The opening track "Overture of the Damned" sets the tone with its ominous organ. The rest of the album takes us into various horror-movie inspired ideas ranging from "She's Possessed" to "Ghost of Fate."

Other highlights included "Sabbath Deadly Sabbath," obviously a nod to the always-relevant Black Sabbath. Don't expect Tony Iommi's crunching riff here, though. This is a much more mellow offering; nevertheless, the meat of the song understands the need to bring us closer to 70s gloom and doom. I also liked "Necronomicon Ex-Mortis" even though I thought it was a little too lackluster a take on H. P. Lovecraft infamous and unreadable book.

I liked this album for its interesting approach to horror themes and for its simple approach to songwriting. The vocals are surprisingly clean, but they aren't terribly strong. I wonder if these guys need to bring their vocals closer to the front. They sound a little distant and unconvincing. I wanted to like this album more than I did. It lacks a certain heart. Perhaps the vampire baby ate it.

Track Listing:
1. Overture of the Damned
2. She's Possessed
3. The Unholy
4. Sabbath Deadly Sabbath
5. Necronomicon Ex-Mortis
6. The Sorceress
7. Your Last Breath
8. Ghost of Fate

Added: October 9th 2012
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 1699
Language: english

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